How to Say ‘Can you make it less salty?’ in Japanese
塩少なめにできますか。
shio sukuname ni deki masu ka
[shee-oh soo-koo-nah-meh nee deh-kee mah-soo kah]
💬 Usage Tip: Full polite request. If you want even more polite: [塩少なめにできますでしょうか。] (very polite).
🇯🇵 In Japan: Custom requests may take extra time; in Japan it’s common for staff to mention that before confirming.
Phrase Breakdown
塩
shio
[shee-oh]
salt
塩 is what you’re customizing here (the salt on fries, etc.).
塩少なめにできますか。
Can you make it with less salt?
少なめ
sukuname
[soo-koo-nah-meh]
less / lightly
少なめ politely asks for a reduced amount, common for salt, sauce, mayo, ice.
塩少なめにできますか。
Can you make it with less salt?
に
ni
[nee]
to / into
に marks the requested setting/state: “to less salt.”
塩少なめにできますか。
Can you make it less salty?
でき
deki
[deh-kee]
can do (stem)
でき (from できる) expresses ability/possibility: “can you do/make it…”.
塩少なめにできますか。
Can you do less salt?
ます
masu
[mah-soo]
polite ending
ます keeps the request polite, appropriate when ordering.
塩少なめにできますか。
Can you make it with less salt?
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
か makes it a question; together with できますか it becomes a polite request.
塩少なめにできますか。
Can you make it with less salt?
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