お会計をお願いします
okaikei o onegaishimasu
In Japanese, "get the bill" is expressed 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 server to bring the bill to your table.
What does it mean word for word?
The word お会計 is the polite form of kaikei, which means "account" or "settlement".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For a slightly more traditional or formal way to ask for the bill compared to お会計をお願いします, you can use お勘定をお願いします. You may also use お勘定をお願いできますか to mean "Can I ask for the bill, please?"
How do you pronounce it?
okaikei o onegaishimasu
When do people say it?
In Japan, tipping is not customary and can be seen as impolite.
Did you know?
- In many Japanese restaurants, you do not wait for a server to bring the bill to your table. Instead, you take a small slip of paper left on your table to the cashier near the entrance to pay.
- If you want to split the bill, you can use the word 割り勘 which literally means 'divided account'.
- The 'kaikei' in お会計 is the same word used for the 'accounting' department in a large corporation. This links your dinner bill to the broader concept of formal financial settlements.
Examples in context
- お会計をお願いします。Okaikei o onegaishimasu.Get the bill, please.
Example conversation
Misaki and Ren are finishing their meal at a cafe.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮さん、お会計をお願いします。Ren-san, okaikei o onegaishimasu.Ren, get the bill, please.
- 蓮 Renはい、わかりました。Hai, wakarimashita.Okay, I understand.
- 蓮 Ren店員さんを呼びますね。Tenin-san o yobimasu ne.I will call the server.
- 美咲 Misakiありがとうございます。Arigatou gozaimasu.Thank you.
