2名様
nimeisama
In Japanese, the phrase for "party of two" is 2名様 (nimeisama).
This phrase is used primarily by restaurant staff when confirming a reservation or seating a group.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
2名様 is the standard polite way to state a party size in service settings like restaurants or hotels. Another formal honorific term for a "party of two" is お二人.
How do you pronounce it?
nimeisama
Did you know?
- If you are dining alone, you would not use the concept of a 'party' but would instead refer to yourself as お一人様 (ohitorisama), a term that has become a massive cultural phenomenon in Japan known as 'ohitorisama culture'.
- While 'party of two' sounds like a group in English, the Japanese counter 名 (mei) literally translates to 'name'. Thus, when a host says 2名様, they are numerically counting the 'names' present at the table.
- While 2名様 is for staff, a customer would never call their own group 2名様 because using 様 for oneself is a major social faux pas.
Examples in context
- 2名様ですね？A party of two, correct?
- 本日、2名様のご案内が可能です。Honjitsu, 2mei-sama no go-annai ga kanou desu.We can accommodate a party of two today.
Example conversation
Yota and Misaki arrive at a restaurant.
- 陽太 Yotaこんばんは。2名様です。konbanwa. ni-mei-sama desu.Good evening. We are a party of two.
- 美咲 Misakiいらっしゃいませ。予約はされていますか？irasshaimase. yoyaku wa sarete imasu ka?Welcome. Do you have a reservation?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、陽太の名前で予約しました。hai, Yota no namae de yoyaku shimashita.Yes, I booked it under Yota's name.
- 美咲 Misaki確認できました。こちらへどうぞ。kakunin dekimashita. kochira e douzo.I found it. This way, please.
