How to Say ‘I'd like to make a reservation’ in Japanese
予約したいのですが
yoyaku shi tai no desu ga
[yoh-yah-koo shee tie noh dess gah]
💬 Usage Tip: Ending with のですが "…but" leaves the sentence open, which makes the request sound softer. The listener picks it up from there.
Phrase Breakdown
予約したい
yoyaku shi tai
want to make a reservation
Read 'yoyaku shitai'. 予約 means 'reservation' and したい means 'want to do'. The 'i' in 'shi' is very light.
席を予約したいです。
I want to reserve a table.
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.
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)
Expresses the speaker’s desire. Can sound strong/clear, good for honest relationship talk.
あなたとこれからも一緒にいたいし、真剣に付き合いたい。
I want to be with you from now on, and I want to date seriously.
のですが
no desu ga
...but / I'd like to... (soft lead-in)
Read 'no desu ga'. This softens a request and invites a reply. The 'u' in 'desu' is nearly silent.
質問したいのですが。
I'd like to ask a question...
Words in this phrase
の
no
[noh]
(explanatory no)
Nominalizer that adds an explaining or softening tone before です.
行きたいのです。
It's that I want to go.
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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