お会計をお願いします
okaikei o onegaishimasu
In Japanese, "check, please" is said as お会計をお願いします (okaikei o onegaishimasu).
This phrase is used when you are ready to pay and want to signal the staff to bring the bill to your table.
What does it mean word for word?
The word お会計 (the bill) consists of the honorific prefix o, the noun kaikei (account/settlement) and refers to the bill.
Which one should you use?
You may also encounter 勘定をお願いします, which uses the synonym 勘定 for the bill and is slightly more formal or traditional.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Adding a slight pause after お会計 makes the phrase sound natural and polite in a restaurant setting.
How do you pronounce it?
okaikei o onegaishimasu
Did you know?
- In Japan, it is often considered more polite to pay at the cash register near the entrance rather than waiting for the staff to bring a check to your table, which is a common practice in Western countries.
- In traditional Japanese inns or high-end restaurants, the bill may be presented in a small tray called a 盆 (bon), and it is considered polite to place your money or card in the tray rather than handing it directly to the staff.
- The word 会計 (kaikei) is also the term used for 'accounting' in a business context, meaning you are essentially asking for the 'accounting' of your meal.
Examples in context
- お会計をお願いします。Okaikei o onegaishimasu.Check, please.
- すみません、お会計をお願いします。Sumimasen, okaikei o onegaishimasu.Excuse me, check, 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?Check, please. Can I use a card?
Example conversation
Yui and Ren are finishing their meal at a restaurant.
- 結衣 Yuiお腹いっぱいだね。お会計をお願いします。Onaka ippai dane. O-kaikei o onegaishimasu.I'm full. Check, please.
- 蓮 Renそうだね。僕が払うよ。Sou dane. Boku ga harau yo.I agree. I'll pay.
- 結衣 Yuiえっ、いいの？ありがとう！E, ii no? Arigatou!Wait, really? Thank you!
- 蓮 Renいいよ。気にしないで。Ii yo. Ki ni shinaide.It's fine. Don't worry about it.
