What does it mean word for word?
The word お会計 (okaikei) is composed of the honorific prefix o and kaikei, which means 'accounting' or 'settlement'.
Which one should you use?
While お会計をする means to pay the bill, when you actually want to request the bill from staff, it is more natural to use お会計をお願いします or お勘定をお願いします. For a more business-like or formal way to express the act of settling an account or calculating a total, you can use 勘定する.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
There are several ways to request the bill depending on the setting. お会計をお願いします is a formal way to politely request the bill in restaurants or stores. For a more sophisticated tone, you can use お勘定をお願いします. If you are in a laid-back establishment or speaking with acquaintances, you can use the informal versions お会計をお願い or 勘定をお願い.
How does it change in a sentence?
To turn the phrase お会計をする into a polite request to someone else, you change the verb to the te-kudasai form, resulting in お会計をしてください.
How do you pronounce it?
okaikei o suru
When do people say it?
When you receive your bill, it is customary to say ありがとうございます to show gratitude towards the staff.
Did you know?
- In Japan, a common non-verbal way to signal you are ready to 'pay the bill' is to make a writing motion in the air with your hand, rather than calling out a phrase.
- In many Japanese eateries, it is common to place your money or credit card on a small tray provided by the staff rather than handing it directly to them.
- The concept of 割り勘 (warikan) refers to splitting the bill equally among friends, a practice so ingrained that it is a standard social expectation in Japan.
Examples in context
- 店員さんに、お会計をするタイミングを尋ねます。Ten'in-san ni, okaikei o suru taimingu o tazunemasu.I will ask the staff about the timing to pay the bill.
Example conversation
Yota and Himari are finishing their meal at a cafe.
- 陽葵 Himariもう お腹いっぱいだね。Mou onaka ippai da ne.I'm already full.
- 陽太 Yota僕が お会計をするよ。Boku ga okaikei o suru yo.I'll pay the bill.
- 陽葵 Himariえっ、いいの？ありがとう！E', ii no? Arigatou!Eh, are you sure? Thank you!
- 陽太 Yotaいいよ。お店に行こう。Ii yo. Omise ni ikou.It's fine. Let's go to the counter.
