Japanese for English speakers Cafe · Lesson 1

Ordering drinks

Order coffee politely in Japanese, including specifying iced (アイス) with ...でよろしいですか. Learn the difference between コーヒー and 麦茶 (barley tea) and the polite acknowledgement かしこまりました.

Conversation

  1. Yennifer Yennifer

    コーヒーと麦茶をお願いします

    Kōhī to mugi cha o onegaishimasu

    A coffee and a barley tea, please

    Tip: <Kōhī> = coffee <Mugicha> = barley tea

  2. Kyle Kyle

    コーヒーはアイスでよろしいですか？

    Kōhī wa aisu de yoroshī desu ka?

    Would you like an iced coffee?

    Tip: <Aisu> = Ice <...De yoroshī desu ka?> = Is it okay like ..?

  3. Yennifer Yennifer

    はい、アイスでお願いします

    Hai, aisu de onegaishimasu

    Yes, cold please

    Tip: <De onegaishimasu> = Please, do it like ...

  4. Kyle Kyle

    はい、かしこまりました

    Hai, kashikomarimashita

    Yes, certainly

    Tip: <Kashikomarimashita> = Formal way of saying "Certainly" or "I understand"

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

How do you order in a Japanese cafe?

Use ...をお願いします (... o onegaishimasu) for the polite 'one ..., please' formula. Combine with menu words: コーヒーをお願いします = 'a coffee, please'.

What is 麦茶 (mugicha)?

Roasted barley tea — a Japanese drink served cold in summer and warm in winter. Caffeine-free and lightly nutty.

What does アイスで mean?

'With ice' or 'iced' — used to request a cold version of a drink that's typically hot, like coffee or tea.

What is ...でよろしいですか?

A polite phrase used by staff to confirm a choice: '... でよろしいですか?' = 'is ... okay with you?'.

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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