予約しています
yoyaku shiteimasu
To say "I have a booking" in Japanese, use 予約しています (yoyaku shiteimasu).
When arriving at a hotel or restaurant, it is common to follow this phrase by stating your name: 予約の名前は… (The name for the reservation is…).
What does it mean word for word?
The verb part しています (shiteimasu) literally means "am doing" in a continuous state.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal situations, you can use 予約があります or 予約をしています. For informal or casual speech, you can use 予約があるよ to mean "I have a booking, you know!" or the casual 予約してる to mean "I've already booked it". Additionally, the phrase 予約しています can be shortened to 予約してる in casual, informal speech.
How does it change in a sentence?
While 予約しています describes the current state of having a booking, 予約した is the past tense "made a reservation".
How do you pronounce it?
yoyaku shiteimasu
Did you know?
- Some high-end restaurants in Japan operate as 一見さんお断り ('ichigen-san okotowari'), meaning they refuse bookings from first-time guests without a personal introduction from a regular.
- The word 予約 comes from 予 ('yo') meaning 'in advance' and 約 ('yaku') meaning 'promise', literally describing the booking as a 'prior promise'.
- Japanese has a specific term 無断キャンセル ('mudan kyanseru') for 'no-shows', combining the Japanese word for 'without permission' with the English word 'cancel'.
Examples in context
- すみませんが、予約があります。Excuse me, I have a booking.
- 予約をしていますので、チェックインの手続きをお願いします。I have a booking, so please proceed with the check-in process.
- おい、夜は何をするの？俺、このホテルに泊まるんだ。予約があるよ。Hey, what are you doing tonight? I'm staying at this hotel. I have a booking, you know!
- コンサート、行くの？それとも忙しいのかな？俺、もう予約してるんだよ。Are you going to the concert? Or are you busy? I've already booked my ticket, you know!
- ホテルを予約しています。Hoteru o yoyaku shite imasu.I have a booking for a hotel.
- 田中という名前で予約しています。Tanaka to iu namae de yoyaku shite imasu.I have a booking under the name Tanaka.
Example conversation
Ren is checking into a hotel.
- 蓮 Renこんにちは。予約しています。Konnichiwa. Yoyaku shiteimasu.Hello. I have a booking.
- 美咲 Misaki承知いたしました。お名前をお願いします。Shōchi itashimashita. Onamae o onegaishimasu.Certainly. Your name, please.
- 蓮 Ren蓮です。Ren desu.I am Ren.
- 美咲 Misaki蓮様ですね。確認できました。Ren-sama desu ne. Kakunin dekimashita.Mr. Ren, right? I have found your booking.
