One of the most essential phrases to know when traveling to Japan is how to make a reservation. Whether you want to book a table at a restaurant or reserve a hotel room, knowing how to express your desire to make a reservation is crucial. In this guide, we will cover both formal and informal ways to say “I want to make a reservation” in Japanese, along with useful tips and examples.
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Formal Ways to Say “I Want to Make a Reservation”
When speaking in a formal context or with strangers, it is important to use polite language. Here are a few formal phrases you can use to express your wish to make a reservation:
- 予約をしたいと思っています。 (Yoyaku o shitai to omotte imasu.)
Translation: I would like to make a reservation. - 予約をお願いしたいのですが。 (Yoyaku o onegai shitai nodesu ga.)
Translation: I would like to request a reservation, please.
When making a reservation over the phone, it’s common to use the phrase ‘お電話で予約したいのですが。‘ (Odenwa de yoyaku shitai nodesu ga.) which means “I would like to make a reservation over the phone, please.”
Informal Ways to Say “I Want to Make a Reservation”
When speaking with friends or in a more casual setting, you can use less formal language. Here are a few informal phrases to express your desire to make a reservation:
- 予約をしたいんだけど。 (Yoyaku o shitai n da kedo.)
Translation: I want to make a reservation. - 予約したいんだけど。 (Yoyaku shitai n da kedo.)
Translation: I want to make a reservation.
If you want to sound even more casual, you can drop the polite ‘んだけど’ (‘n da kedo’) part and simply say ‘予約したい。‘ (Yoyaku shitai.) which means “I want to make a reservation.”
Useful Tips and Examples
1. Specify the date and time: To make a reservation, it is essential to provide the date and time. Here’s an example indicating that you want to make a reservation for tomorrow at 7 PM:
明日の7時に予約したいんですが。
(Ashita no shichi-ji ni yoyaku shitai n desu ga.)
Translation: I want to make a reservation for tomorrow at 7 PM.
2. Mention the number of people: If you are making a reservation that involves multiple people, it is polite to mention the number of people. Here’s an example:
3人で予約したいんですが。
(San-nin de yoyaku shitai n desu ga.)
Translation: I want to make a reservation for three people.
3. Specify the type of reservation: Depending on the situation, you may need to specify the type of reservation you want to make. For instance, if you wish to book a hotel room, you can say:
ホテルの部屋を予約したいんですが。
(Hoteru no heya o yoyaku shitai n desu ga.)
Translation: I want to make a reservation for a hotel room.
4. Listen and respond: After expressing your desire to make a reservation, listen carefully to the response and be prepared to answer any additional questions they might have, such as your name or contact information.
Remember, it’s always polite to thank the person for their assistance, so saying ‘ありがとうございます‘ (Arigatou gozaimasu) meaning “Thank you” is a nice gesture.
Now that you’re equipped with these useful phrases and tips, you can confidently make a reservation in Japanese. Enjoy exploring the wonderful attractions and cuisine that Japan has to offer!
