How to Say ‘Four people.’ in Japanese
四人です。
yo nin desu
[YOHN neen dess]
💬 Usage Tip: 四人 is (yonin), not (yon-nin) or (shi-nin). Watch the first two as well: 一人 (hitori) and 二人 (futari) break the pattern, and from three on it's regular: 三人 (sannin), 五人 (gonin).
Phrase Breakdown
四
yo
[YOHN]
four
The number four. When counting people with the counter 名 (mei), it is read 'yon'. It is used to tell the restaurant how many guests are in your party.
四名で予約をお願いします。
I'd like to make a reservation for four people, please.
人
nin
[neen]
person; people counter
A counter used for counting people.
予約は三人ですが、人を数え直します。
The reservation is for three people, but I count the people again.
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
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