How to Ask for the Bill in Japanese: お会計お願いします and Payment Questions
Learn to request the check and ask about payment methods in Japanese restaurants. Master お会計お願いします, カードで払えますか, and polite variations for ending a meal smoothly.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you finish a meal in Japan, you usually need to get the staff's attention to ask for the bill. The standard phrase is お会計お願いします (okaikei onegaishimasu). This lesson teaches you that phrase, how to pronounce it, how to ask if card payment is possible, and how to handle the situation politely. You'll also learn a few related expressions that let you end your meal smoothly, whether you're at a casual eatery or a more formal restaurant.
By the end, you can…
- ask for the bill in Japanese using お会計お願いします and similar phrases.
- ask whether card payment is accepted using カードで払えますか.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
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お会計お願いします。
The bill, please.
Okaikei onegai shimasu.
The most common and polite way to ask for the check. Use it after finishing your meal, often while making eye contact with staff or raising your hand slightly.
カードで払えますか。
Can I pay by card?
Kādo de haraemasu ka.
Ask this before you attempt to pay by card. It's a straightforward question about payment method. In some smaller establishments, card may not be accepted.
現金でお願いします。
Cash, please.
Genkin de onegai shimasu.
Use this if you prefer to pay in cash or if card isn't accepted. It clearly states your payment method.
別々に払えますか。
Can we pay separately?
Betsubetsu ni haraemasu ka.
Ask this when you want to split the bill. Some restaurants may not allow separate payments, so it's good to ask first.
ごちそうさまでした。
Thank you for the meal.
Gochisōsama deshita.
Say this when leaving the restaurant or after paying. It's a polite set phrase expressing gratitude for the meal.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern for requesting the bill is お会計お願いします (okaikei onegaishimasu). お会計 (okaikei) means 'the bill' or 'the check,' and お願いします (onegaishimasu) is a polite way to make a request. You can also say お勘定お願いします (okanjō onegaishimasu), which is slightly more traditional but still widely understood. For payment methods, use [method] + で + 払えますか (de haraemasu ka) to ask if you can pay by that method. For example, カードで払えますか (kādo de haraemasu ka) means 'Can I pay by card?' and 現金で払えますか (genkin de haraemasu ka) means 'Can I pay in cash?'
When to use it
Use お会計お願いします when you are ready to pay and leave. In many Japanese restaurants, you pay at the register near the exit rather than at your table, so you might say this to a staff member as you approach the register. If you are at a table and want the bill brought to you, you can say お会計お願いします after catching the staff's attention. For payment method questions, ask before the bill is processed. If you're unsure whether card is accepted, カードで払えますか is the direct way to find out. In more formal settings, you can add すみません (sumimasen) before your request to politely get attention: すみません、お会計お願いします。
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、お会計お願いします。
Excuse me, the bill please.Sumimasen, okaikei onegai shimasu.はい、少々お待ちください。
Yes, please wait a moment.Hai, shōshō omachi kudasai.カードで払えますか。
Can I pay by card?Kādo de haraemasu ka.申し訳ございません、現金のみとなります。
I'm sorry, we only accept cash.Mōshiwake gozaimasen, genkin nomi to narimasu.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, it's common to pay at a cash register near the entrance rather than at your table. Saying お会計お願いします while making eye contact or a slight bow is polite. Tipping is not customary. If you need to split the bill, ask 別々に払えますか before paying, as some places may not accommodate it. The phrase ごちそうさまでした is a friendly way to thank the staff as you leave.
One thing to watch for
Using ください (kudasai) instead of お願いします (onegaishimasu) when asking for the bill, as in お会計ください.
Try this instead: While お会計ください is not grammatically wrong, it can sound a bit direct or abrupt. The standard polite request is お会計お願いします。 This is the phrase you'll hear most often and it's appropriate in almost any restaurant setting.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you ask for the bill in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
お会計お願いします。
This is the most common and polite phrase. You could also say お勘定お願いします, which is slightly more traditional but still correct.
2What should you say to ask if you can pay by card?
Show a sample answer
カードで払えますか。
This directly asks if card payment is possible. You can also say カードは使えますか (kādo wa tsukaemasu ka), which means 'Can I use a card?' and is equally valid.
3How would you ask to pay separately?
Show a sample answer
別々に払えますか。
This asks if separate payments are allowed. Some restaurants may not offer this, so asking first is polite. Another way is 別々でお願いします (betsubetsu de onegai shimasu), meaning 'Separate, please.'
To ask for the bill, say お会計お願いします. To ask about card payment, say カードで払えますか. Use these phrases politely and you'll handle the end of your meal smoothly in Japan.
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