Japanese for Beginners: Saying 'I Didn't Get My ___' to Correct an Order Mistake
Learn to tell restaurant or shop staff that an item is missing from your order using ～が来ていません and ～をもらっていません, with polite beginner-level Japanese.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
When you order food or buy a set of items, sometimes something is missing. This is different from asking for more: you are not requesting an extra portion, you are reporting an error and asking for the item you already paid for or ordered. In Japanese, the clearest beginner pattern is ～が来ていません (〜 ga kite imasen), literally '～ has not come.' You can also say ～をもらっていません (〜 o moratte imasen), 'I have not received ～.' Both are polite enough for staff in restaurants, cafés and shops. This lesson gives you five useful phrases, a short dialogue, and practice so you can correct a missing item calmly and clearly.
By the end, you can…
- say that a specific item has not arrived using ～が来ていません.
- politely tell staff that I did not receive an item using ～をもらっていません.
- confirm my order and ask staff to check it.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
すみません、フォークが来ていません。
Excuse me, my fork hasn't come.
Sumimasen, fōku ga kite imasen.
Use this in a restaurant when a utensil or dish you ordered has not arrived. すみません gets staff attention politely.
すみません、ライスをもらっていません。
Excuse me, I haven't received the rice.
Sumimasen, raisu o moratte imasen.
Use を with もらっていません. This works for a side dish, drink or set item that should have come with your order.
私の注文は、コーヒーとケーキです。
My order is coffee and cake.
Watashi no chūmon wa, kōhī to kēki desu.
State your order clearly before reporting the missing item. 注文 (chūmon) means 'order.'
ケーキがまだ来ていません。
The cake still hasn't come.
Kēki ga mada kite imasen.
Add まだ (mada), 'still,' to show you have been waiting. This is gentle but clear.
確認してもらえますか。
Could you check it for me?
Kakunin shite moraemasu ka.
A polite request for staff to check your order. Use it after explaining what is missing.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The core pattern is noun + が + 来ていません (noun + ga + kite imasen). 来ていません is the negative polite form of 来ています, 'has come.' For example, スープが来ていません (sūpu ga kite imasen) means 'The soup hasn't come.' For items you receive rather than things that 'come,' use noun + を + もらっていません (noun + o + moratte imasen): メニューをもらっていません (menyū o moratte imasen), 'I haven't received a menu.' Both patterns report a missing item; they do not ask for a second helping.
When to use it
Use these phrases after you have ordered and noticed something is missing. First get attention with すみません (sumimasen), then name the item, then say が来ていません or をもらっていません. For example: すみません、水が来ていません (Sumimasen, mizu ga kite imasen), 'Excuse me, the water hasn't come.' If you want staff to check, add 確認してもらえますか (kakunin shite moraemasu ka). This is not the same as もう一つください (mō hitotsu kudasai), 'one more, please,' which asks for an additional item.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
すみません、フォークが来ていません。
Excuse me, my fork hasn't come.Sumimasen, fōku ga kite imasen.申し訳ありません。すぐにお持ちします。
I'm very sorry. I'll bring it right away.Mōshiwake arimasen. Sugu ni omochi shimasu.あ、それから、ライスをもらっていません。
Oh, and also, I haven't received the rice.A, sorekara, raisu o moratte imasen.かしこまりました。確認します。
Certainly. I'll check.Kashikomarimashita. Kakunin shimasu.A little context goes a long way
In Japanese service settings, staff often respond with 申し訳ありません (mōshiwake arimasen) or かしこまりました (kashikomarimashita). Keep your tone calm and use すみません rather than strong accusations. Directly saying 間違えました (machigaemashita), 'you made a mistake,' can sound blunt; reporting the missing item is usually enough.
One thing to watch for
Using が with もらっていません, as in ライスがもらっていません.
Try this instead: Use を with もらっていません: ライスをもらっていません (raisu o moratte imasen). Use が with 来ていません: ライスが来ていません (raisu ga kite imasen). The particle depends on the verb.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The water hasn't come' politely?
Show a sample answer
水が来ていません。
水 (mizu) is the item, が marks it, and 来ていません reports that it has not come. お水が来ていません is also fine and slightly more polite.
2You ordered a set meal and the miso soup is missing. What can you say?
Show a sample answer
すみません、味噌汁をもらっていません。
This uses を with もらっていません because you are reporting that you did not receive the soup. 味噌汁が来ていません is also acceptable if you think of the soup as 'coming.'
3How do you ask staff to check your order after reporting a missing item?
Show a sample answer
確認してもらえますか。
This politely asks someone to check for you. 確認をお願いします (kakunin o onegaishimasu) is another valid, slightly more formal option.
To correct a missing item, say すみません, name the item with が来ていません or をもらっていません, and add 確認してもらえますか if you want staff to check. This reports an error; it does not ask for an extra portion.
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