お会計
okaikei
The English phrase "restaurant check" is translated into Japanese as お会計 (okaikei).
お会計 refers to the printed bill given to a customer at the end of a meal to show the amount to be paid.
What does it mean word for word?
The word consists of the honorific prefix お and 会計, which means "account" or "settlement".
Which one should you use?
While 勘定 also means "the bill" or "account", お会計 is more common and polite when addressing staff in a restaurant setting.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
お会計 is a polite form that is suitable for use in restaurants.
How do you pronounce it?
okaikei
Did you know?
- While お会計 is the polite request for the bill, many people use the phrase ごちそうさま to signal they are finished and ready to pay. This phrase literally translates to 'it was a feast' and serves as a polite thank you to the kitchen.
- In many traditional restaurants, you do not ask for お会計 at your table. Instead, you must take a small slip of paper or your bill to a dedicated cashier station located near the entrance or exit to settle the payment.
- In Japan, the concept of warikan describes splitting the お会計 equally. This practice is so culturally ingrained that many Japanese payment systems are specifically built to facilitate separate payments for a single table.
Examples in context
- お会計をお願いします。okaikei o onegaishimasu.The check, please.
- お会計はテーブルでできますか？okaikei wa teeburu de dekimasu ka?Can I pay the check at the table?
- お会計は別々にできますか？okaikei wa betsubetsu ni dekimasu ka?Can we pay for the check separately?
Example conversation
Daisho and Himari are finishing their meal at a cafe.
- 大翔 Hirotoもうお腹いっぱいだね。Mō onaka ippai da ne.I'm already full.
- 陽葵 Himari私も。そろそろ行こうか。Watashi mo. Sorosoro ikō ka.Me too. Shall we head out soon?
- 大翔 Hiroto店員さん、お会計をお願いします！Tenin-san, okaikei o onegaishimasu!Server, the check please!
- 陽葵 Himariここは私が払うね。Koko wa watashi ga harau ne.I'll pay for this one.
