First date dinner: Choosing dishes from the menu together
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Key Phrases
一緒に見ましょうか。
issho ni mi mashou ka
Shall we look at it together?
このハンバーグ、おいしそうですね。
kono hanbaagu oishi sou desu ne
This hamburger steak looks delicious, doesn't it?
僕はウーロン茶にします。
boku wa uuron cha ni shi masu
I'll have oolong tea.
Skills You'll Learn
Practicing using 'shall we ~' to suggest doing something together
「〜ましょうか」を使って一緒に何かをする提案をする練習
mashou ka o tsukatsu te issho ni nani ka o suru teian o suru renshuu
Practicing using 'looks like ~' to describe appearance
「〜そうです」を使って見た目の様子を表現する練習
sou desu o tsukatsu te mi ta me no yousu o hyougen suru renshuu
Practicing using 'I'll have/decide on ~' to state an order or choice
「〜にします」を使って注文や選択を伝える練習
ni shi masu o tsukatsu te chuumon ya sentaku o tsutaeru renshuu
Lesson Roleplay
Imagine you're at a restaurant in Japan with a friend. You want to look at the menu together and decide what to eat and drink.
こんばんは。今日はありがとうございます。
konbanwa kyou wa arigatou gozai masu
Good evening. Thank you for coming today.
こちらこそ。メニュー、一緒に見ましょうか。
kochira koso menyuu issho ni mi mashou ka
Thank you, too. Shall we look at the menu together?
はい。何が好きですか。
hai nani ga suki desu ka
Sure. What do you like?
魚が好きです。 Emily さんは？
sakana ga suki desu Emily san wa
I like fish. How about you, Emily?
僕は肉が好きです。このハンバーグ、おいしそうですね。
boku wa niku ga suki desu kono hanbaagu oishi sou desu ne
I like meat. This hamburger steak looks good.
Lesson Vocabulary & Phrases
こんばんは。
konbanwa
Good evening.
💬 The last は is said (wa), not (ha): (konbanwa). It's spelled with は because it was originally the topic marker in a longer greeting.
See breakdown →今日はありがとうございます。
kyou wa arigatou gozai masu
Thank you for today.
🇯🇵 Saying this at the start of a date, not just the end, is normal in Japan. It thanks the other person for making the time to come.
See breakdown →こちらこそ。
kochira koso
Likewise.
💬 こちらこそ literally means "this side, especially". It turns thanks or an apology back onto yourself, and it works after almost any polite thank-you.
See breakdown →メニュー
menyuu
The menu
一緒に見ましょうか。
issho ni mi mashou ka
Shall we look at it together?
💬 Swap the ます ending for ましょうか to make a gentle offer of "shall we…?". For example, 行きましょうか "shall we go?".
See breakdown →メニュー、一緒に見ましょうか。
menyuu issho ni mi mashou ka
Shall we look at the menu together?
🇯🇵 In Japan, couples and friends often share one menu and decide together. Suggesting this sets a relaxed, cooperative tone on a first date.
See breakdown →何が好きですか。
nani ga suki desu ka
What do you like?
💬 With 好き, the thing liked takes が, not を: 何が好き. You'd say 寿司が好きです "I like sushi" the same way.
See breakdown →魚が好きです。
sakana ga suki desu
I like fish.
僕は肉が好きです。
boku wa niku ga suki desu
I like meat.
🇯🇵 僕 (boku) is a soft, friendly "I" used by men. It sounds approachable on a date, less stiff than 私 and less rough than 俺.
See breakdown →Learn this vocabulary list the easy way
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