予約したいです
yoyaku shitai desu
To say "I want to make a reservation" in Japanese, you use 予約したいです (yoyaku shitai desu).
The phrase is used to request a booking for a service, such as a hotel room or a table at a restaurant. The word 予約 (yoyaku) is used for a wide range of bookings, including hotel rooms, restaurant tables and appointments.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of 予約 (yoyaku, reservation), したい (shitai, want to do) and です (desu, polite copula).
Which one should you use?
For more formal situations, 予約をしたいと思っています (I would like to make a reservation) or 予約をお願いしたいのですが (I would like to request a reservation, please) can be used.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
予約したいです is a polite form suitable for use with staff at restaurants or hotels. To make the phrase informal for casual speech with friends or family, you can drop the です to say 予約したい or 予約したいんだけど.
How do you pronounce it?
yoyaku shitai desu
Did you know?
- In Japan, if you make a 予約 for a restaurant and cannot attend, it is common to call and apologize specifically for the 'trouble' caused to the kitchen and staff, rather than just cancelling the slot.
- The concept of 予約 extends to 'pre-ordering' physical products, such as electronics or video games, which are often marketed as 予約販売 (reservation sales) before they are released.
- In highly formal business contexts, a person might avoid saying したい (want to) and instead use させていただきます, which literally means 'I will receive the favor of being allowed to make a reservation'.
Examples in context
- 明日の7時に予約したいんですが。I want to make a reservation for tomorrow at 7 PM.
- 3人で予約したいんですが。I want to make a reservation for three people.
- ホテルの部屋を予約したいんですが。I want to make a reservation for a hotel room.
- レストランを予約したいです。Resutoran o yoyaku shitai desu.I want to make a reservation at a restaurant.
- 明日の夜、予約したいです。Ashita no yoru, yoyaku shitai desu.I want to make a reservation for tomorrow night.
Example conversation
Misaki is calling a hair salon to book an appointment.
- 美咲 Misakiこんにちは。予約したいです。konnichiwa. yoyaku shitai desu.Hello. I want to make a reservation.
- 陽太 Yotaはい。いつが良いですか？hai. itsu ga ii desu ka?Yes. When would be good for you?
- 美咲 Misaki土曜日の午後にお願いします。doyoubi no gogo ni onegai shimasu.Saturday afternoon, please.
- 陽太 Yota承知いたしました。お待ちしております。shouchi itashimashita. omachi shite orimasu.Understood. We look forward to seeing you.
