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How to Say ‘Weren't they reserved seats?’ in Japanese

予約席じゃなかったでしたっけ？

yoyaku seki ja nakatsu ta deshi ta kke

[yoh-yah-koo seh-kee ja nak ta deh-shee ta KEH]

💬 Usage Tip: っけ at the end means "was it?" when you're checking something you half remember. For example, 何時でしたっけ？ means "what time was it again?".

Phrase Breakdown

予約席じゃなかった

yoyaku seki ja nakatsu ta

wasn't it a reserved seat

予約席 (yoyakuseki) = 'reserved seat', じゃなかった = 'wasn't'.

Example

ここは予約席じゃなかった。

This wasn't a reserved seat.

Words in this phrase

予約

yoyaku

[yoh-yah-koo]

reservation

The noun or verbal base meaning reservation/booking.

Example

コンサートを予約したいです。

I would like to reserve the concert.

席

seki

[seh-kee]

seat

A seat or seating section at a venue.

Example

前の方の席はありますか。

Are there seats toward the front?

じゃ

[ja]

is not

Negative form of the copula, indicating a negative state or action.

Example

それじゃない。

That's not it.

なかっ

nakatsu

[nak]

was not

Past tense negative copula used in casual context.

Example

行くつもりなかったんだ。

I didn't intend to go.

た

[ta]

past tense

Indicates a completed action.

Example

昨日、来ました。

I came yesterday.

でしたっけ？

deshi ta kke

...was it? (checking memory)

〜っけ is used when you're trying to remember something. Pause on the small っ: 'deshi-tke'.

Example

明日は休みでしたっけ？

Was tomorrow a day off?

Words in this phrase

でし

deshi

[deh-shee]

was (polite) part

Part of でした, the polite past form of です.

Example

昨日はだめでした。

It was no good yesterday.

た

[ta]

past tense

Indicates a completed action.

Example

昨日、来ました。

I came yesterday.

っけ

kke

[KEH]

was it?; I wonder

Sentence-ending particle used when trying to recall or confirm something.

Example

明日は休みだっけ？

Is tomorrow a day off again?

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