予約できますか？
Yoyaku dekimasu ka?
The English phrase "can I make a reservation?" is translated into Japanese as 予約できますか？ (Yoyaku dekimasu ka?)
This phrase is used to politely ask if a place or service is available to be booked for a future time.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase consists of 予約 followed by できます, which means "can do" or "is possible" and the particle か, which turns the statement into a question.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The form 予約できますか？ is polite and suitable for use with staff at restaurants or hotels. For a more softened and very common polite way to initiate a reservation request, you can use 予約したいのですが, which translates to "I would like to make a reservation (but…)".
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle か at the end of the sentence functions to turn the statement into a question.
How do you pronounce it?
Yoyaku dekimasu ka?
Did you know?
- In Japan, some highly exclusive restaurants use a system called 一見さんお断り (ichigensan okotowari), meaning they refuse reservations from first-time customers who have not been introduced by a regular guest.
- The kanji 約 in 予約 (yoyaku) also appears in the word 約束 (yakusoku), which means 'promise', highlighting that a reservation is viewed as a social contract.
- In Japan, many high-end restaurants rely on 'omakase' reservations, where the guest asks for a reservation but agrees to let the chef decide the entire menu.
Examples in context
- お手数ですが、予約をお願いできますでしょうか？Sorry to bother you, but could I make a reservation, please?
- ちょっと聞いてもいい？予約できるかな？Hey, can I ask you something? Can I make a reservation?
- 予約できるかな？Can I make a reservation?
- 今夜、予約できますか？Konya, yoyaku dekimasu ka?Can I make a reservation for tonight?
- 明日、二人で予約できますか？Ashita, futari de yoyaku dekimasu ka?Can I make a reservation for two people tomorrow?
- 来週の月曜日に予約できますか？Raishuu no getsuyoubi ni yoyaku dekimasu ka?Can I make a reservation for next Monday?
Example conversation
Misaki calls a restaurant to ask about availability.
- 美咲 Misakiすみません、今夜の七時に予約できますか？Sumimasen, konya no shichiji ni yoyaku dekimasu ka?Excuse me, can I make a reservation for seven o'clock tonight?
- 蓮 Renはい、大丈夫ですよ。Hai, daijoubu desu yo.Yes, that is fine.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。よろしくお願いします。Arigatou gozaimasu. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.Thank you. I look forward to it.
- 蓮 Renお待ちしております。Omachi shite orimasu.We will be waiting for you.
