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How to Say ‘I'd like to make a reservation.’ in Japanese

予約をお願いしたいのですが。

yoyaku o o negai shi tai no desu ga

[yoh-yah-koo oh oh neh-gah-ee shee tie noh deh-soo gah]

💬 Usage Tip: This sentence uses [〜たいのですが] to make a request sound less direct and more polite. You can reuse it with other verbs: [変更したいのですが。] "I'd like to make a change."

Phrase Breakdown

予約を

yoyaku o

a reservation / booking; object marker 'を'

'予約' means reservation or booking. 'を' marks it as the object of the request.

Example

予約を確認します。

I will check the reservation.

Words in this phrase

予約

yoyaku

[yoh-yah-koo]

reservation

A booking or reservation, especially for a restaurant.

Example

予約をお願いしたいのですが、二名です。

I would like to make a reservation; it is for two people.

o

[oh]

object marker

Marks reservation as the thing being requested.

Example

予約をお願いしたいのですが、明日は空いていますか。

I would like to make a reservation; are you available tomorrow?

お願いしたい

o negai shi tai

would like to ask / request

A polite way to express that you would like to make a request.

Example

手伝いをお願いしたいです。

I would like to ask for help.

Words in this phrase

o

[oh]

honorific prefix

Adds politeness to お願い.

Example

おお願いしたいのですが、窓側の席はありますか。

I would like to ask politely; do you have a window seat?

願い

negai

[neh-gah-ee]

request; favor

Refers to making a polite request.

Example

お願いしたいのですが、来週の土曜日はどうですか。

I would like to ask; how about next Saturday?

shi

[shee]

do

Verb stem used in the request expression.

Example

しお願いしたいのですが、七時で大丈夫ですか。

I would like to ask; is seven o’clock okay?

たい

tai

[tie]

want to

Shows the speaker's desire to do the action.

Example

たい気持ちで予約をお願いしたいのですが。

With the desire to do so, I would like to make a reservation.

のですが

no desu ga

but..., I'm wondering..., I would like to...

A softening phrase that makes the request sound more polite and indirect.

Example

予約したいのですが。

I’d like to make a reservation.

Words in this phrase

no

[noh]

explanatory connector

Helps soften the statement before making a polite request.

Example

のですが、予約をお願いしたいです。

Well, I would like to make a reservation.

です

desu

[deh-soo]

is; am; are

Polite copula used in formal speech.

Example

予約をお願いしたいのですが、こちらでいいです。

I would like to make a reservation, and this is fine.

ga

[gah]

but

Softens the sentence and leads into the request politely.

Example

予約をお願いしたいのですが、今お時間はありますか。

I would like to make a reservation, but do you have a moment now?

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