Japanese for Reserving a Table: Booking for Two at 7
Learn to call or ask in person to reserve a table in Japanese, using yoyaku and the request pattern onegaishimasu, so you can book a table for two at 7 o'clock.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
This lesson teaches you how to reserve a table in Japanese, either by phone or in person. Booking is different from ordering: when you order, you ask for food and drinks after you are seated; when you book, you ask for a table in advance, give a time, and often give the number of people. The key noun is 予約 (yoyaku, reservation). The key request ending is お願いします (onegaishimasu, please). You will learn to say 'I'd like to book a table for two at 7' as 七時に二人でテーブルを予約したいです (shichi-ji ni futari de tēburu o yoyaku shitai desu). You will also learn to ask 予約できますか (yoyaku dekimasu ka, can I reserve?) and to answer simple questions about time and party size.
By the end, you can…
- ask to reserve a table in Japanese by phone or in person.
- say the time and the number of people for my reservation.
- understand and answer simple questions about a reservation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
予約したいです。
I'd like to make a reservation.
yo-ya-ku shi-ta-i desu
A polite, general way to start a booking. Use it at the start of a phone call or at the reception desk.
七時に二人でテーブルを予約したいです。
I'd like to book a table for two at 7.
shi-chi-ji ni fu-ta-ri de tē-bu-ru o yo-ya-ku shi-ta-i de-su
The full booking request. 七時 (shichi-ji) is 7 o'clock; 二人で (futari de) means 'for two people'.
予約できますか。
Can I make a reservation?
yo-ya-ku de-ki-ma-su ka
A polite yes/no question. Use it when you are not sure the restaurant takes reservations.
何名様ですか。
How many people, please?
nan-mei-sa-ma de-su ka
A common staff question. 名様 (mei-sama) is a polite counter for people. Answer with 二人です (futari desu, two people).
お願いします。
Please. / Yes, please.
o-ne-gai-shi-ma-su
A polite phrase used to confirm a request. After giving your details, say お願いします to mean 'please go ahead'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core booking pattern is [time] に [number of people] で テーブルを 予約したいです。For example, 七時に二人でテーブルを予約したいです (shichi-ji ni futari de tēburu o yoyaku shitai desu) means 'I'd like to book a table for two at 7.' You can change the time and the number: 八時に三人で (hachi-ji ni sannin de, for three at 8), 六時半に一人で (roku-ji han ni hitori de, for one at 6:30). The particle に marks the time, and で marks the number of people. If you only need to ask whether booking is possible, use 予約できますか (yoyaku dekimasu ka).
When to use it
Use these phrases when you contact a restaurant before you go, either by phone or in person at the entrance. On the phone, start with もしもし (moshi moshi, hello) and then 予約したいです (yoyaku shitai desu). In person, you can say すみません、予約したいです (sumimasen, yoyaku shitai desu, excuse me, I'd like to make a reservation). Staff may ask 何名様ですか (nan-mei-sama desu ka, how many people?) and 何時ですか (nan-ji desu ka, what time?). Answer with 二人です (futari desu) and 七時です (shichi-ji desu). This is different from ordering, where you say これをください (kore o kudasai, this please) after you are seated.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、予約したいです。
Excuse me, I'd like to make a reservation.su-mi-ma-sen, yo-ya-ku shi-ta-i de-suはい、何名様ですか。
Yes, how many people, please?hai, nan-mei-sa-ma de-su ka七時に二人でテーブルを予約したいです。
I'd like to book a table for two at 7.shi-chi-ji ni fu-ta-ri de tē-bu-ru o yo-ya-ku shi-ta-i de-suはい、七時に二人ですね。お願いします。
Yes, two people at 7, right? Please go ahead.hai, shi-chi-ji ni fu-ta-ri de-su ne. o-ne-gai-shi-ma-suA little context goes a long way
In Japan, many restaurants accept reservations by phone, but some small shops do not. It is polite to say すみません (sumimasen) before your request and お願いします (onegaishimasu) when confirming. If you are late, calling to say 遅れます (okuremasu, I will be late) is appreciated. Staff may use polite forms such as 何名様ですか (nan-mei-sama desu ka); you can answer simply with 二人です (futari desu).
One thing to watch for
Using ください (kudasai) to mean 'I'd like to book': 予約ください (yoyaku kudasai).
Try this instead: Use 予約したいです (yoyaku shitai desu) or 予約をお願いします (yoyaku o onegaishimasu). For example, say 七時に二人で予約したいです (shichi-ji ni futari de yoyaku shitai desu), not 予約ください。
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I'd like to book a table for two at 7' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
七時に二人でテーブルを予約したいです。
This uses the pattern [time] に [number] で テーブルを 予約したいです. You can also say 七時に二人で予約をお願いします, which is equally polite.
2A staff member asks 何名様ですか。 How do you answer 'two people'?
Show a sample answer
二人です。
二人 (futari) is the native Japanese counting word for two people. 二名です (ni-mei desu) is also correct in a more formal style.
3How do you ask 'Can I make a reservation?' politely?
Show a sample answer
予約できますか。
予約できますか (yoyaku dekimasu ka) is a polite yes/no question. You can also add すみません at the start: すみません、予約できますか。
To book a table in Japanese, remember 予約したいです (yoyaku shitai desu) and the pattern [time] に [number] で テーブルを予約したいです. Confirm with お願いします.
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