お会計をお願いします
okaikei o onegaishimasu
In Japanese, "can I get the bill" is expressed as お会計をお願いします (okaikei o onegaishimasu).
This phrase is a polite request used in a restaurant or cafe to ask for the total amount of money owed.
What does it mean word for word?
In the word お会計, the お at the beginning is an honorific prefix that makes the noun more polite.
Which one should you use?
While お会計をお願いします is a standard, polite way to ask for the bill, you may also see お勘定をお願いします used as a polite and common way to request the bill. For a more casual approach, particularly in cafes or westernized establishments, you can use the katakana loanword チェックお願いします (check please).
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お会計をお願いします is a slightly more formal alternative to お勘定をお願いします, though both are polite. For a short and informal way to request the bill, you can use お勘定お願い. In casual settings, チェックお願いします is also considered an informal or colloquial option.
How do you pronounce it?
okaikei o onegaishimasu
Did you know?
- Tipping is not practiced in Japan, so when you say お会計をお願いします, the total you pay is exactly what you owe without adding extra.
- Unlike in many Western countries, you rarely need to ask for the bill to pay at the table in Japan. At many casual establishments, you take your bill to a central register near the exit to pay before leaving.
- Using the phrase お願いします essentially means 'I entrust this to you', turning a request for a bill into a gesture of trust in the staff.
Examples in context
- お会計をお願いします。Okaikei o onegaishimasu.Can I get the bill, please?
- お会計をお願いします。カードは使えますか？Okaikei o onegaishimasu. Kaado wa tsukaemasu ka?Can I get the bill? Can I use a card?
Example conversation
At a small cafe after finishing a meal.
- 蓮 Renすみません、お会計をお願いします。Sumimasen, okaikei o onegaishimasu.Excuse me, can I get the bill?
- 結衣 Yuiはい、少々お待ちください。Hai, shou shou omachi kudasai.Yes, please wait a moment.
- 蓮 Ren結衣、今日はごちそうさま。Yui, kyou wa gochisousama.Yui, thanks for the meal today.
- 結衣 Yuiいえいえ、また来ましょうね。Ie ie, mata kimashou ne.No problem, let's come again.
