How to Say ‘How many people (polite)’ in Japanese
何名様
nan mei sama
[nan mei sama]
💬 Usage Tip: 名 is a polite counter for people, and 様 makes it even more respectful, so 何名様 is the standard customer-service way to ask party size. In casual speech you'd more often hear 何人.
🇯🇵 In Japan: This is a very typical restaurant or hotel phrase from staff to customers. You usually wouldn't use 何名様 about yourself; you'd answer with something simple like 4人です.
Phrase Breakdown
何
nan
[nan]
how many
Interrogative word used to ask quantity.
何でも好きなものを選んでください。
Please choose anything you like.
名
mei
[mei]
people
Counters used for counting people.
三名様です。
There are three people.
様
sama
[sama]
honorific title
Polite suffix used for addressing others.
先生様にお会いします。
I will meet the teacher.
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