ご注文をお伺いしてもよろしいですか？
gochūmon o oukagai shitemo yoroshii desu ka?
“May I take your order?” in Japanese is ご注文をお伺いしてもよろしいですか？ (gochūmon o oukagai shitemo yoroshii desu ka?)
This phrase is a polite question a server asks a customer to find out what they would like to eat or drink. It is typically used in high-end restaurants or hotels to show maximum respect to the customer.
Which one should you use?
While ご注文をお伺いしてもよろしいですか？ is a highly formal way to ask permission, ご注文を伺います is a standard, polite way for a server to state they are ready to take the order. Additionally, ご注文はお決まりですか is a formal way to ask 'Have you decided on your order?'
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
ご注文をお伺いしてもよろしいですか？ is a highly formal expression used to demonstrate maximum respect. In contrast, ご注文を伺います is a standard polite version and ご注文はお決まりですか is a formal way to check if a decision has been made.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the term ご注文, the prefix go- is added to chūmon to make the noun honorific, referring to the customer's order.
How do you pronounce it?
gochūmon o oukagai shitemo yoroshii desu ka?
Did you know?
- In many Japanese restaurants, you will not hear this phrase because customers use a tablet or a QR code to order. The phrase is becoming a marker of luxury 'omotenashi' service.
- The phrase uses a specific type of humble language that does not just show politeness, but actively lowers the server's social standing to elevate the customer's status.
- While the phrase asks 'May I?', a customer often responds with onegaishimasu, which means 'please', rather than a simple 'yes'.
Examples in context
- すみません、ご注文はお決まりですか。Excuse me, have you decided on your order?
- すみません、ご注文をお伺いしてもよろしいですか？Sumimasen, gochūmon o oukagai shite mo yoroshii desu ka?Excuse me, may I take your order?
Example conversation
A waiter approaches a woman at a restaurant table.
- 健太 Kentaご注文をお伺いしてもよろしいですか？go-chūmon o o-ukagai shite mo yoroshii desu ka?May I take your order?
- 陽葵 Himariはい。パスタをお願いします。hai. pasuta o onegai shimasu.Yes. I'll have the pasta, please.
- 健太 Kentaかしこまりました。kashikomarimashita.Certainly.
- 陽葵 Himari飲み物は後で頼みます。nomimono wa ato de tanomimasu.I'll order drinks later.
