Korean for Reserving a Table: Booking for Two at 7 PM
Learn to reserve a restaurant table in Korean by phone or in person, using polite request patterns like 예약하고 싶어요 and a table for two at seven.
By MarcusFood & cafés · Yapr Learn
Reserving a table is different from ordering food. When you book, you are asking for a future time and a number of people, and you often need to give your name or phone number. In Korean, the key verb is 예약하다 (yeyakhada), meaning 'to reserve.' The most useful polite pattern is 예약하고 싶어요 (yeyakhago sipeoyo), 'I would like to reserve.' This lesson gives you the exact phrases to call or ask in person, confirm the time and party size, and respond if the restaurant is full.
By the end, you can…
- ask to reserve a table in Korean using a polite request.
- state the number of people and the time for the reservation.
- understand and respond to simple questions about a booking.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
예약하고 싶어요.
I would like to make a reservation.
ye-yak-ha-go si-peo-yo
The standard polite way to begin a booking, used both on the phone and in person.
두 명이요.
For two people.
du myeong-i-yo
Use after the reservation request to give the party size. 명 is the counter for people.
일곱 시예요.
It's at seven o'clock.
il-gop si-ye-yo
Use to give the time. The polite copula 예요 attaches directly to the time.
자리 있어요?
Do you have a table available?
ja-ri i-sseo-yo
A direct but polite way to ask if a table is free. 자리 means 'seat' or 'table spot.'
성함이 어떻게 되세요?
May I have your name?
seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo
A polite question you may hear from staff. Answer with your name plus 이에요/예요.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern 예약하고 싶어요 (yeyakhago sipeoyo) means 'I would like to reserve.' It combines the verb stem 예약하- with -고 싶어요, which expresses a polite wish. You can use the same pattern for other bookings: 방을 예약하고 싶어요 (bang-eul yeyakhago sipeoyo) 'I would like to reserve a room.' To add details, put the number of people and time before or after the request: 두 명, 일곱 시 예약하고 싶어요. The counter 명 (myeong) follows native Korean numbers for people: 한 명, 두 명, 세 명, 네 명.
When to use it
Use 예약하고 싶어요 when you are the customer making a request. If you are asking whether a table is free, use 자리 있어요? (jari isseoyo?). On the phone, staff may ask 몇 분이세요? (myeot buniseyo?) 'How many people?' or 몇 시예요? (myeot siyeyo?) 'What time?' Answer with 두 명이요 and 일곱 시예요. If the restaurant is full, you may hear 죄송하지만 예약이 다 찼어요 (joesonghajiman yeyagi da chasseoyo) 'Sorry, but reservations are full.' In that case, you can ask 다른 시간은 가능해요? (dareun siganeun ganeunghaeyo?) 'Is another time possible?'
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
안녕하세요. 예약하고 싶어요.
Hello. I would like to make a reservation.an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. ye-yak-ha-go si-peo-yo.네, 몇 분이세요?
Yes, how many people?ne, myeot bun-i-se-yo?두 명이요. 일곱 시예요.
For two people. It's at seven o'clock.du myeong-i-yo. il-gop si-ye-yo.네, 성함이 어떻게 되세요?
Yes, may I have your name?ne, seong-ham-i eo-tteo-ke doe-se-yo?A little context goes a long way
In Korean restaurants, reservations are common for dinner and weekends, but small local places may not take them. Using 예약하고 싶어요 is polite and clear. Staff may ask for your name and phone number; giving your name with 이에요/예요 is enough. If you are asked 성함이 어떻게 되세요?, this is a formal but friendly way to ask your name, not a sign of distance.
One thing to watch for
Saying 예약해요 (yeyakhaeyo) when you mean 'I would like to reserve.'
Try this instead: 예약해요 can sound like a simple statement 'I reserve' or a habitual action. For a polite request, use 예약하고 싶어요. Example: 두 명, 일곱 시 예약하고 싶어요. If you want to be more direct but still polite, 예약할 수 있어요? (yeyakhal su isseoyo?) 'Can I make a reservation?' also works.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'I would like to reserve a table for two at seven' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
두 명, 일곱 시 예약하고 싶어요.
This combines the party size 두 명, the time 일곱 시, and the polite request 예약하고 싶어요. You can also say 일곱 시에 두 명 예약하고 싶어요; both are natural.
2The staff asks 몇 분이세요? What should you answer if there are three people?
Show a sample answer
세 명이요.
세 명이요 means 'three people.' The counter 명 follows the native Korean number 세. If you are unsure, you can also say 세 명이에요, which is equally polite.
3How do you ask 'Do you have a table available?' in Korean?
Show a sample answer
자리 있어요?
자리 있어요? literally means 'Is there a seat/table?' It is a direct but polite question. You can also say 테이블 있어요? (teibeul isseoyo?) using the loanword 테이블.
To reserve a table in Korean, start with 예약하고 싶어요, then add 두 명 and 일곱 시. Listen for 몇 분이세요? and 성함이 어떻게 되세요? to complete your booking.
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