予約をしたいのですが
yoyaku o shitai no desu ga
To say "I would like to make a reservation" in Japanese, you use 予約をしたいのですが (yoyaku o shitai no desu ga).
This phrase is used when calling a restaurant, hotel or clinic to request a booking. The core concept is the word 予約 (yoyaku), which means "reservation".
Which one should you use?
While 予約をしたいのですが is a standard polite way to express your intent, you can also use 予約をお願いしたいのですが (yoyaku o onegai shitai no desu ga) to be slightly more formal, as this version uses the verb for "requesting".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
予約をしたいのですが is a polite and standard way to initiate a reservation in a service setting. For even more politeness, you can use Sumimasen, yoyaku wo onegai shimasu (Excuse me, I would like to make a reservation) or the more formal 予約をお願いしたいのですが. Another polite option is Yoyaku wo shitaidesu.
How do you pronounce it?
yoyaku o shitai no desu ga
Did you know?
- In high-end Japanese dining, some establishments use a 一見さんお断り (ichigensan okotowari) policy, meaning they refuse 'first-time guests' unless they are introduced by a regular customer who has already made a 予約.
- The ending 〜のですが (no desu ga) literally means 'but'. It is used here to leave the sentence open-ended, politely inviting the listener to respond and help.
- In Japanese business culture, a 予約 for a meeting is often preceded by a アポ (apo), a shortened version of the English word 'appointment', which is used as a noun to describe the act of scheduling.
Examples in context
- 予約をしたいのですが、空いていますか？Yoyaku o shitai no desu ga, aite imasu ka?I would like to make a reservation, are you available?
- 明日の夜に、予約をしたいのですが。Ashita no yoru ni, yoyaku o shitai no desu ga.I would like to make a reservation for tomorrow night.
- すみません、ディナーの予約をしたいのですが。Sumimasen, dinā no yoyaku o shitai no desu ga.Excuse me, I would like to make a reservation for dinner.
Example conversation
Ren is calling a restaurant to book a table for a celebration.
- 蓮 Renすみません、今週の土曜日に予約をしたいのですが。Sumimasen, konshū no doyōbi ni yoyaku o shitai no desu ga.Excuse me, I would like to make a reservation for this Saturday.
- 陽葵 Himariはい、かしこまりました。何名様でしょうか？Hai, kashikomarimashita. Nanmei-sama deshō ka?Yes, certainly. How many people will be in your party?
- 蓮 Ren二人でお願いします。Futari de onegaishimasu.Two people, please.
- 陽葵 Himari承知いたしました。では、お名前をお願いします。Shōchi itashimashita. Dewa, onamae o onegaishimasu.Understood. Then, may I have your name, please?
