How to Say ‘How many people’ in Japanese
何名様
nan mei sama
[nan mei sama]
💬 Usage Tip: [名様] is a polite way to count guests in places like restaurants and hotels. Staff will often say [何人] in casual situations, but [何名様] sounds more customer-facing and respectful.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is standard service language, so you'll hear it from staff much more than you'll say it yourself. When answering, customers usually just give the number, like [四人です].
Phrase Breakdown
何
nan
[nan]
how many; what number
An interrogative used to ask quantity or number.
何名様でご予約ですか。
For how many people is the reservation?
名
mei
[mei]
counter for people
A counter used for counting people in formal situations.
三名でお願いします。
Three people, please.
様
sama
[sama]
honored person; polite suffix
A respectful suffix added in customer service language.
何名様でしょうか。
How many people will there be?
Get the Full Learning Experience
This lesson is just a preview. Download PrettyFluent to practice pronunciation, roleplay conversations, and master vocabulary with spaced repetition.
Pronunciation Feedback
AI-powered speech recognition to perfect your accent
Spaced Repetition
Retain vocabulary long-term with smart practice
Immersive Roleplaying
Practice real conversations with AI partners
Custom Scenarios
Request lessons tailored to your specific needs
Get Full LessonWhat Learners Are Saying
“Teaching in Osaka and I wanted to connect with my students beyond the classroom. The everyday conversation scenarios made my Japanese feel natural, not textbook-y.”
Mia S., 25, English Teacher
“Moved to Tokyo and the polite vs. casual speech levels were killing me. This app breaks it all down with real scenarios. My coworkers noticed the difference in weeks.”
Kevin Z., 31, Game Developer
“I tried five different apps before this one. The roleplay conversations are what finally made things click. I actually remember what I learn now.”
Sofia R., 31, Marketing Manager