How to Ask for the Bill and Split It in Japanese: お会計 and 別々で
Learn to request the check and ask about splitting the bill at a Japanese restaurant using お会計お願いします, 別々でお願いします, and 割り勘. Includes a natural dialogue and practice.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
At a restaurant in Japan, the most direct way to ask for the bill is お会計お願いします (okaikei onegaishimasu). If you want to pay separately, say 別々でお願いします (betsubetsu de onegaishimasu). For a shared split, use 割り勘 (warikan). This lesson gives you the exact phrases, when to use them, and how to respond if staff ask ご一緒ですか (go-issho desu ka).
By the end, you can…
- ask for the bill at a restaurant using お会計お願いします.
- ask to split the bill using 別々でお願いします or 割り勘.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
お会計お願いします。
Could we have the bill, please?
o-ka-i-ke-i o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-su
Standard polite request for the check at a restaurant. Use after finishing your meal, often with a small bow.
別々でお願いします。
Separate checks, please.
be-tsu-be-tsu de o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-su
Ask for separate bills. Common when each person pays their own share. 別々 means 'separately'.
割り勘でお願いします。
Let's split the bill evenly, please.
wa-ri-kan de o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-su
Ask to divide the total equally among everyone. 割り勘 means 'split bill' or 'going Dutch'.
ご一緒ですか。
Will you be paying together?
go-i-ssho de-su ka
Staff may ask this when you request the bill. Answer 別々です (betsubetsu desu) for separate, or 一緒です (issho desu) for together.
カードは使えますか。
Can I use a card?
kaado wa tsukaemasu ka
Ask about payment method. Do not assume card acceptance; this is a neutral question.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is noun + でお願いします (de onegaishimasu). で marks the manner or condition. Examples: 別々でお願いします (separate, please), 割り勘でお願いします (split evenly, please), 現金でお願いします (cash, please). For simply requesting the bill, use お会計お願いします without で. お会計 is the polite word for 'check' or 'bill'. You can also say お勘定お願いします (okanjō onegaishimasu), which is slightly more traditional but still polite.
When to use it
Use お会計お願いします when you are ready to pay and want the bill brought to your table. If you are with others and want separate checks, say 別々でお願いします. If you want to split the total equally, say 割り勘でお願いします. Staff may then ask ご一緒ですか (together?) or 別々ですか (separate?). Answer with 別々です or 一緒です. At a cafe, you often pay at the counter, so you might just say お会計お願いします at the register. At a restaurant, you usually ask at the table. Note that some restaurants may not offer separate checks; you can still ask, but be ready to pay together and settle among yourselves.
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, could we have the bill, please?su-mi-ma-se-n, o-ka-i-ke-i o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-suはい、ご一緒ですか。
Yes, will you be paying together?hai, go-i-ssho de-su ka別々でお願いします。
Separate checks, please.be-tsu-be-tsu de o-ne-ga-i-shi-ma-suかしこまりました。少々お待ちください。
Certainly. Please wait a moment.kashikomarimashita. shōshō omachi kudasaiA little context goes a long way
In Japan, splitting the bill is common among friends, but some traditional restaurants may prefer one payment. 割り勘 is casual and widely understood. 別々でお願いします is polite and clear. If you are with a senior or host, they may insist on paying; it is polite to offer to pay your share, but accept gracefully if they decline. Tipping is not customary.
One thing to watch for
Using 割り勘 alone as a request without お願いします, e.g., 割り勘。
Try this instead: While 割り勘 alone can be understood among friends, it sounds abrupt to staff. Use 割り勘でお願いします for a polite request. Example: 割り勘でお願いします。 (Warikan de onegaishimasu.)
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are at a restaurant and want the bill. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
お会計お願いします。
This is the standard polite phrase. You could also say お勘定お願いします, which is also correct.
2You and a friend want separate checks. What do you say when the staff asks ご一緒ですか。
Show a sample answer
別々でお願いします。
This clearly asks for separate bills. 別々です alone is also acceptable as a short answer.
3You want to split the total evenly among four people. What phrase do you use?
Show a sample answer
割り勘でお願いします。
割り勘 means splitting evenly. You can also say 割り勘にしましょう among friends, but to staff, 割り勘でお願いします is polite.
Use お会計お願いします to ask for the bill. For separate checks, say 別々でお願いします. For an even split, say 割り勘でお願いします. Listen for ご一緒ですか and answer 別々です or 一緒です.
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