How to Say ‘I'd like to make a reservation’ in Japanese
予約をお願いしたいんですが
yoyaku o o negai shi tai n desu ga
[yoh-yah-koo wo oh neh-guy shee tie n dess gah]
💬 Usage Tip: Ending with んですが "...but" softens a request by leaving it hanging, which invites the other person to respond. Swap in any noun: 席をお願いしたいんですが "I'd like a table..."
🇯🇵 In Japan: Trailing off with が sounds polite and natural on the phone. Staff will pick up from there, so you don't need to finish the sentence.
Phrase Breakdown
予約を
yoyaku o
a reservation (object)
予約 (yoyaku) means reservation. を marks it as the object. Say 'yo-ya-ku-o'.
ホテルの予約をしました。
I made a hotel reservation.
Words in this phrase
予約
yoyaku
[yoh-yah-koo]
reservation; booking
Used when booking or reserving something in advance.
コンサートの予約をしたいです。
I want to make a reservation for the concert.
を
o
[wo]
direct object marker
Marks the direct object of a verb.
本を読む。
Read a book.
お願いしたいんですが
o negai shi tai n desu ga
I'd like to request...
お願いしたい means 'want to request'. んですが softens the sentence and leaves it open, which is polite. Say 'o-ne-gai-shi-tain-desu-ga'.
両替をお願いしたいんですが。
I'd like to exchange some money.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific/polite prefix
A polite prefix that makes a word sound more refined or respectful.
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.
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.
注文をお願いし、ます。
I would like to place the order, please.
たい
tai
[tie]
want to do
Shows the speaker's desire to do an action.
住民登録をしたいです。
I would like to do residency registration.
ん
n
[n]
(explanatory n)
Casual form of の; adds a tone of seeking or giving an explanation, often before です.
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.
少し伺いたいです。
I would like to ask a little.
が
ga
[gah]
(softening ending)
Ending a sentence with ga softens a request politely.
お願いしたいんですが。
I'd like to ask a favor...
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