How to Say ‘I would 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-guy shee tie noh dess gah]
💬 Usage Tip: [〜たいのですが] softens what you want, making it sound less blunt than just saying [予約をお願いします]. You can reuse it with other requests: [窓側の席をお願いしたいのですが] "I'd like to ask for a window seat."
Phrase Breakdown
予約を
yoyaku o
a reservation / booking
The thing you want to make.
予約をお願いします。
I’d like to make a reservation.
Words in this phrase
予約
yoyaku
[yoh-yah-koo]
reservation
A booking or reservation, often for a restaurant, hotel, or service.
来週の土曜日の予約をお願いしたいのですが。
I would like to make a reservation for next Saturday.
を
o
[oh]
object marker
A particle marking the direct object of a verb.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、空いていますか。
I would like to make a reservation; do you have availability?
お願いしたい
o negai shi tai
would like to request
Polite way to say what you want to ask for.
席の変更をお願いしたいです。
I’d like to request a seat change.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific prefix
A polite prefix added to some words to make the expression more courteous.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、お席の希望もあります。
I would like to make a reservation, and I also have a seating preference.
願い
negai
[neh-guy]
request
From the verb meaning to ask or request; here it appears in a polite request expression.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、窓側でお願いできますか。
I would like to make a reservation; could I request a window-side seat?
し
shi
[shee]
do
A verb connector from する, used here as part of したい, 'want to do.'
予約をお願いしたいのですが、四名です。
I would like to make a reservation; it is for four people.
たい
tai
[tie]
want to
Shows desire to do something when attached to a verb stem.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、母の誕生日です。
I would like to make a reservation; it is my mother's birthday.
のですが
no desu ga
but... / I would like to say...
Softens the request and makes it polite.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、空いていますか。
I’d like to make a reservation, but are you available?
Words in this phrase
の
no
[noh]
explanatory particle
A soft explanatory の used to make the sentence sound more natural and polite.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、静かなお席がいいのです。
I would like to make a reservation; a quiet seat would be good.
です
desu
[dess]
is / am / are
A polite copula used to end statements politely.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、特別な日です。
I would like to make a reservation; it is a special day.
が
ga
[gah]
but / and
A sentence-ending particle here that softens the request, like 'but...' in polite Japanese.
予約をお願いしたいのですが、来週は空いていますか。
I would like to make a reservation, but do you have availability next week?
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