Japanese for Asking for More: Additional Servings at Meals and Cafés
Learn beginner Japanese phrases to request another serving or refill, such as Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu and Okawari o onegaishimasu, with polite restaurant and home usage.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you have already ordered or received something and want another serving, Japanese uses a small set of set phrases rather than simply repeating your first request. This lesson teaches how to ask for more food, another cup of tea, or an additional item in a restaurant, at a friend's home, or at a café. You will learn the counters hitotsu, futatsu, and the useful word okawari, plus how to make the request polite with onegaishimasu. The focus is repetition: you are not ordering for the first time, but asking for a second or further portion.
By the end, you can…
- ask for one more serving of food or drink using Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu.
- request a refill of rice, tea, or soup using Okawari o onegaishimasu.
- ask for another specific item with Mō ichi-mai or Mō ippai when appropriate.
- respond politely when a server or host offers more.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
もう一つお願いします。
One more, please.
Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu.
General polite request for one additional item, such as a dumpling, a slice, or a small dish. Works in restaurants and at home. Note that hitotsu is a native Japanese counter and does not take the particle o directly in this set phrase.
おかわりをお願いします。
A refill, please. / Another serving, please.
Okawari o onegaishimasu.
Very common for a second helping of rice, soup, or tea. Often used at home and in casual restaurants. Okawari is a noun, so it takes o when it is the object of a request.
ご飯のおかわりをください。
Can I have another serving of rice?
Gohan no okawari o kudasai.
Names the food before okawari with no. Kudasai is polite and direct; onegaishimasu is slightly softer.
お茶をもう一杯ください。
Can I have another cup of tea?
Ocha o mō ippai kudasai.
Use ippai for one cup or glass of a drink. Mō means 'another' or 'more' here. Ippai is the counter for cupfuls of liquid.
もう一枚お願いします。
One more slice/sheet, please.
Mō ichi-mai onegaishimasu.
Use ichi-mai for thin, flat things such as slices of bread, ham, or paper. Ichi-mai is the counter for flat objects.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The basic pattern is Mō + counter + onegaishimasu, or [food] no okawari o onegaishimasu. Mō means 'more' or 'another' in this context. Hitotsu means 'one item' for many small objects, ippai means 'one cup' for drinks, and ichi-mai means 'one flat piece.' For example, Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu is a safe general request. If you want to name the food, say Gohan no okawari o onegaishimasu. Japanese nouns do not change form for plural, and counters already show quantity, so no plural ending is needed.
When to use it
Use these phrases after you have already received something and want a second portion. In a restaurant, Okawari o onegaishimasu is natural for rice or soup, while Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu works for one more of a small item. At a friend's home, Okawari o onegaishimasu is friendly and common. If a server offers Mō ikaga desu ka, you can accept with Hai, onegaishimasu or decline with Iie, daijōbu desu. Avoid using kudasai repeatedly in one conversation; onegaishimasu sounds softer.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、ご飯のおかわりをお願いします。
Excuse me, another serving of rice, please.Sumimasen, gohan no okawari o onegaishimasu.はい、少々お待ちください。
Certainly, please wait a moment.Hai, shōshō o-machi kudasai.あの、お茶ももう一杯ください。
Um, another cup of tea too, please.Ano, ocha mo mō ippai kudasai.かしこまりました。すぐにお持ちします。
Certainly. I will bring it right away.Kashikomarimashita. Sugu ni o-mochi shimasu.A little context goes a long way
In Japan, okawari often refers to a free or inexpensive second helping of rice, soup, or tea, especially at set-meal restaurants and at home. Politeness matters: onegaishimasu is safer than kudasai when speaking to staff or a host. At a private home, you may also hear Okawari, dōzo before you ask. Tipping is not customary, so a polite phrase is the main way to show appreciation.
One thing to watch for
もう一つをください。 (Mō hitotsu o kudasai.)
Try this instead: Say もう一つお願いします。 (Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu.) The particle o is not used directly after hitotsu in this set phrase. Onegaishimasu is the natural polite ending for requests for more.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a restaurant and want another bowl of rice. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
ご飯のおかわりをお願いします。 (Gohan no okawari o onegaishimasu.)
This names the food with no and uses okawari for a second serving. Okawari o kudasai is also acceptable, but onegaishimasu is softer.
2You want one more slice of ham. Which counter fits?
Show a sample answer
もう一枚お願いします。 (Mō ichi-mai onegaishimasu.)
Ichi-mai counts thin, flat items such as ham slices. Mō hitotsu is also possible if you do not need to be precise, but ichi-mai is more specific.
3A server asks おかわりはいかがですか。 You want more tea. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
はい、お願いします。 (Hai, onegaishimasu.)
This accepts the offer politely. You can also say お茶のおかわりをお願いします if you want to specify tea.
For a second serving, remember Mō hitotsu onegaishimasu for one more item and Okawari o onegaishimasu for a refill of rice, soup, or tea. Add the food name with no when you need to be clear.
Progress is saved on this browser.
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Put today’s Japanese into a conversation with an AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr