Japanese for English speakers Bakery · Lesson 2

Polite interactions

Polite Japanese for cafés and restaurants — reply to a waiter using formal phrases, order multiple items with the counter 〜つ (hitotsu, futatsu), and place orders using ...をお願いします. Includes ikaga desu ka for offering drinks.

Conversation

  1. Rocky Rocky

    定食を二つお願いします

    Teishoku o futatsu onegaishimasu.

    Two set menus, please!

    Tip: <Tsu> = Counter for compact objects (like eggs, balls, pillows) Hitotsu (one item) Futatsu (two items) Mittsu (three items) <...O onegaishimasu> = Can I have ... please?

  2. Meera Meera

    はい、かしこまりました

    Hai, kashikomarimashita

    Yes, I'll be right back

  3. Meera Meera

    お飲み物はいかがですか？

    O nomimono wa ikaga desu ka?

    Would you like something to drink?

    Tip: <Nomimono> = Drink, beverage (O nomimono) = Polite way to say "drink, beverage" <Ikaga desu ka> = What do you think of it?

  4. Rocky Rocky

    コーラとジュースをお願いします

    Kōra to jūsu o onegaishimasu

    Cola and juice, please

    Tip: <Kōra> = Cola <Jūsu> = Juice

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you politely order in Japanese?

Use ...をお願いします (... o onegaishimasu), literally 'please give me ...'. It's the standard polite phrase for placing an order.

What does かしこまりました (kashikomarimashita) mean?

A very formal 'certainly' or 'understood', used by waitstaff and shop staff to acknowledge a customer's request.

How do you count items in Japanese?

Use the generic 〜つ counter for small objects: hitotsu (one), futatsu (two), mittsu (three), yottsu (four), itsutsu (five).

What does いかがですか mean?

A polite way to ask 'what do you think?' or 'how about ...?' — used by staff offering options to customers.

Test yourself

Pick the English translation for each line from this lesson. Wrong answers are pulled from other Japanese lessons.

4 quick questions on what you just heard.

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