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

二名で予約をお願いしたいんですが。

ni mei de yoyaku o o negai shi tai n desu ga

[nee mei deh yoh-yah-koo oh oh neh-guy shee tie n dess gah]

🇯🇵 In Japan: Ending on が "but" and leaving the sentence hanging is the normal polite way to make a request on the phone in Japan. It signals that you are opening a request and inviting the staff to respond, which sounds softer than asking outright.

Phrase Breakdown

二名で予約を

ni mei de yoyaku o

a reservation for two

予約 (yoyaku) means reservation. を marks the object.

Example

二名で予約をしました。

I made a reservation for two.

Words in this phrase

二

[nee]

two

The number two.

Example

二お願いします。

Two, please.

名

mei

[mei]

counter for people / guests

名 is a polite counter used to count people, especially customers or guests in formal situations like restaurants.

Example

4名でお願いします。

Four people, please.

で

[deh]

for; as (amount)

Particle marking a quantity or group size.

Example

三人で行きます。

We will go as three people.

予約

yoyaku

[yoh-yah-koo]

reservation; booking

Used when booking or reserving something in advance.

Example

コンサートの予約をしたいです。

I want to make a reservation for the concert.

を

[oh]

object marker

The particle を marks the direct object of a verb.

Example

チケットを二枚ください。

Two tickets, please.

お願いしたいんですが。

o negai shi tai n desu ga

I'd like to request...

This is a soft, polite way to ask. The ending んですが leaves the sentence gently open.

Example

注文をお願いしたいんですが。

I'd like to order, please.

Words in this phrase

お

[oh]

honorific/polite prefix

A polite prefix that makes a word sound more refined or respectful.

Example

おすすめのおは、ことばを丁寧にします。

The o in osusume makes the word more polite.

願い

negai

[neh-guy]

request; favor

願い refers to a wish or request, and in お願い it forms a polite request expression.

Example

お願いがあります。

I have a request.

し

shi

[shee]

do (stem)

Verb stem used as part of the fixed polite request phrase.

Example

注文をお願いし、ます。

I would like to place the order, please.

たい

tai

[tie]

want to

Added to a verb stem to express the speaker's desire to do something.

Example

前の方の席を予約したいです。

I want to reserve seats toward the front.

ん

[n]

(explanatory n)

Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.

Example

どうしたんですか。

What happened?

です

desu

[dess]

is; polite copula

A polite sentence ending used in formal conversation.

Example

少し伺いたいです。

I would like to ask a little.

が

[gah]

(softening ending)

Ending a sentence with ga softens a request politely.

Example

お願いしたいんですが。

I'd like to ask a favor...

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