予約
yoyaku[jo̞ja̠kɯ̟]
The English word 'reservation' is translated into Japanese as 予約 (yoyaku).
予約 is the standard Japanese term for a reservation. It is used for a wide range of advance arrangements, such as securing a table at a restaurant, booking a hotel room, making a doctor appointment or even booking a specific item to be purchased at a later time.
Meaning: arrangement by which something is secured in advance (noun)
How do you pronounce it?
yoyaku
Did you know?
- The character 予 in 予約 is used in the word 予言 (yogen), which means 'prophecy'. Both words share the same root concept of something happening 'beforehand'.
- In Japanese culture, a 予約 for a high-end restaurant or ryokan is often seen as a social contract. Cancelling a 予約 at the last minute is considered a significant breach of etiquette, far more so than in many Western cultures.
- If you use 予約 for a person instead of an object or service, it can sound like you are 'reserving' the human being itself, which can be quite strange in a social context.
Examples in context
- 予約してある。I have a reservation.This sentence shows how to express that you have a reservation using 予約.Tatoeba #78990 by KK_kaku_, translation #324726 by CK
- 予約しとくね。I'll make a reservation.This sentence is useful for saying you will make a reservation using 予約.Tatoeba #8618511 by bunbuku, translation #2546063 by CK
- 予約が要るよ。You have to make a reservation.This sentence is used to state that a reservation is necessary using 予約.Tatoeba #10142662 by bunbuku, translation #68874 by CK
- 予約をしたいですI would like to make a reservation.
- 予約しようLet's make a reservation.
- 予約できますか？Can I make a reservation?
- 二人分の予約をしたいです。I would like to make a reservation for two people.
- 窓側の席を予約することはできますか？Is it possible to reserve a table near the window?
- 明日の夜、予約をしたいです。We want to make a reservation for tomorrow night.
- 45 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A couple is discussing their dinner plans.
- 美咲 Misakiディナーの予約はした？Dinā no yoyaku wa shita?Did you make a reservation for dinner?
- 大翔 Hirotoうん、大丈夫だよ。Un, daijōbu da yo.Yes, it's all set.
- 美咲 Misakiよかった、楽しみだね！Yokatta, tanoshimi dane!Great, I'm looking forward to it!
- 大翔 Hiroto美味しいお店だよ。Oishii omise da yo.It's a delicious restaurant.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “reservation” translations and entries 予約, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
