4名用の席
yonin'yō no seki
In Japanese, "table for four" is expressed as 4名用の席 (yonin'yō no seki).
This phrase refers to a request for a restaurant table that can accommodate four people. While 4名用の席 is a valid way to describe the physical table, if a host asks how many people are in your party, it is more natural and common to simply say 4名です.
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle の (no) acts as a descriptive linker between 4名用 (for 4 people) and 席 (seat) to form the full phrase 4名用の席, which means "a seat for four people".
How do you pronounce it?
yonin'yō no seki
Did you know?
- The number 'four' in 4名 (yon-mei) is often avoided in other contexts because the number '4' is a homophone for the word for 'death'. While it is perfectly acceptable in a restaurant, some people may feel an instinctive hesitation toward the number 4 in different settings.
- In traditional Japanese seating, the 'kamiza' or 'upper seat' is the one furthest from the entrance. The most senior member of a group of four is traditionally seated here to show respect.
- When entering a restaurant, it is common to hold up four fingers to indicate your party size while saying 4名です, making the spoken number almost optional.
Examples in context
- 4名用の席はありますか？yon-mei-yō no seki wa arimasu ka?Do you have a table for four?
- 4名用の席を予約したいです。yon-mei-yō no seki o yoyaku shitai desu.I would like to reserve a table for four.
- 4名用の席をお願いします。yon-mei-yō no seki o onegaishimasu.A table for four, please.
Example conversation
Hiyori and Yota are entering a restaurant.
- 陽葵 Himariすみません、4名用の席は空いていますか。Sumimasen, yon-mei-yō no seki wa aite imasu ka.Excuse me, is there a table for four available?
- 陽太 Yotaはい、少々お待ちください。Hai, shōshō omachi kudasai.Yes, please wait a moment.
- 陽太 Yotaこちらが4名用の席になります。Kochira ga yon-mei-yō no seki ni narimasu.This will be your table for four.
- 陽葵 Himariありがとうございます。Arigatō gozaimasu.Thank you very much.
