How to Say 'I Want' and 'Can I Have' in Japanese for Any Food or Drink
Learn to ask for any food or drink in Japanese with hoshii and onegaishimasu, using coffee and apple examples that work in homes, shops and anywhere else.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
In Japanese, you do not need a special cafe phrase to ask for food or drink. Two patterns cover most everyday situations: hoshii desu for 'I want ___', and ___ o onegaishimasu for 'Can I have ___?' or '___ please'. This lesson teaches both with common items such as koohii (coffee) and ringo (apple). You will also learn the particle o, which marks the item you are requesting, and the polite desu ending. These patterns work at a friend's house, at a market stall, on a train, or in a restaurant, so you are not limited to cafe ordering.
By the end, you can…
- say I want a particular food or drink using hoshii desu.
- ask for a food or drink politely using o onegaishimasu.
- name at least five common foods and drinks in Japanese.
- choose between hoshii desu and onegaishimasu depending on the situation.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
コーヒーがほしいです。
I want a coffee.
KŌ-hī ga ho-SHII desu
Use hoshii desu to state that you want a drink. The particle ga marks koohii as the thing you want. This is a statement, not a request to a server.
りんごがほしいです。
I want an apple.
rin-GO ga ho-SHII desu
Ringo means apple. Japanese does not need 'an' or 'a', so ringo can mean 'an apple' or 'apples' depending on context.
コーヒーをおねがいします。
Can I have a coffee? / A coffee, please.
KŌ-hī o o-ne-gai-shi-MASU
Onegaishimasu is the standard polite way to ask for something. The particle o marks the item you are requesting. Use this in shops, homes and restaurants.
りんごをおねがいします。
Can I have an apple? / An apple, please.
rin-GO o o-ne-gai-shi-MASU
This works when you are choosing one item from several, such as at a market stall or a fruit stand.
みずをください。
Please give me water.
mi-ZU o ku-da-SAI
Kudasai is another polite request pattern. It is common for simple requests and is slightly more direct than onegaishimasu.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern [item] ga hoshii desu means 'I want [item]'. For example, コーヒーがほしいです (koohii ga hoshii desu) means 'I want a coffee', and りんごがほしいです (ringo ga hoshii desu) means 'I want an apple'. Use ga after the item. To ask for something politely instead of stating a desire, use [item] o onegaishimasu, as in コーヒーをおねがいします (koohii o onegaishimasu). Here o marks the item as the object of your request. You can also use [item] o kudasai, as in みずをください (mizu o kudasai), 'Please give me water'.
When to use it
Use hoshii desu when you are talking about your own desire, such as telling a friend or family member what you would like. Use onegaishimasu when you are making a polite request to someone who can give you the item, such as a host, a shop worker or a server. For example, at a friend's house you might say コーヒーがほしいです (koohii ga hoshii desu) to express what you want, but when the friend offers you a drink, コーヒーをおねがいします (koohii o onegaishimasu) is the natural polite request. Kudasai is also fine for simple requests, but onegaishimasu sounds a little softer and more formal.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
コーヒーがほしいです。
I want a coffee.KŌ-hī ga ho-SHII desuはい、コーヒーをおねがいします。
Yes, a coffee, please.hai, KŌ-hī o o-ne-gai-shi-MASUりんごもありますか。
Do you also have apples?rin-GO mo a-ri-MASU kaはい、りんごをどうぞ。
Yes, here is an apple.hai, rin-GO o DŌ-zoA little context goes a long way
Japanese often softens requests with onegaishimasu rather than a direct command. In casual settings among friends, people may simply say the item name with a rising intonation, such as コーヒー? (koohii?), but this is not appropriate with strangers or in formal situations. When you are a guest, wait to be offered something before asking, and use onegaishimasu to keep the tone polite.
One thing to watch for
Using コーヒーがほしいです (koohii ga hoshii desu) when asking a server or host to give you coffee.
Try this instead: Hoshii desu states your own desire; it is not a request to another person. When you want someone to give you something, use コーヒーをおねがいします (koohii o onegaishimasu) or コーヒーをください (koohii o kudasai). For example, at a cafe or a friend's home, say コーヒーをおねがいします (koohii o onegaishimasu).
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I want an apple' in Japanese?
Show a sample answer
りんごがほしいです。 (ringo ga hoshii desu)
This uses the item ringo plus ga hoshii desu. You could also say りんごがほしい (ringo ga hoshii) in casual speech, but the polite form adds desu.
2You are at a friend's house and want to ask for water politely. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
みずをおねがいします。 (mizu o onegaishimasu)
Onegaishimasu is the polite request pattern. みずをください (mizu o kudasai) is also correct, but onegaishimasu sounds softer when you are a guest.
3What is the difference between コーヒーがほしいです and コーヒーをおねがいします?
Show a sample answer
コーヒーがほしいです states 'I want a coffee', while コーヒーをおねがいします asks 'A coffee, please' or 'Can I have a coffee?'
Hoshii desu expresses your own desire and is not a request to someone else. Onegaishimasu is a polite request you can use with a host, server or shop worker. Both are correct in the right situation.
Use hoshii desu to say what you want, and o onegaishimasu to ask for it politely. These two patterns work for coffee, apples and almost any other food or drink, in any setting.
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