How to Say ‘What do you recommend?’ in Japanese
おすすめは何ですか。
o susume wa nan desu ka
[oh soo-soo-meh wah nahn dess kah]
💬 Usage Tip: A very useful customer phrase. Literally, "As for the recommendation, what is it?"
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking [おすすめは何ですか。] is normal and friendly in Japan, especially if the menu is big or unfamiliar.
Phrase Breakdown
おすすめ
o susume
recommendation; recommended item; suggestion
Refers to something recommended or suggested, often used when asking for advice on what is good.
このレストランのおすすめは何ですか。
What do you recommend at this restaurant?
Words in this phrase
お
o
[oh]
honorific/polite prefix
A polite prefix that makes a word sound more refined or respectful.
おすすめは何ですかのおは、丁寧な感じを出します。
The o in osusume gives a polite feeling.
すすめ
susume
[soo-soo-meh]
recommendation
Something recommended by the restaurant or staff.
店員にすすめは何ですかと聞きました。
I asked the staff, “What do you recommend?”
は何ですか
wa nan desu ka
is what?; what is ...?
A common question pattern: X は何ですか means 'What is X?' or 'What is the ...?'
これは何ですか。
What is this?
Words in this phrase
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker
A particle that marks what the sentence is about.
おすすめは何ですかでは、はが話題を示します。
In “What is your recommendation?”, wa marks the topic.
何
nan
[nahn]
what
A question word used to ask for information about something.
おすすめは何ですかと最初に聞く人も多いです。
Many people first ask, “What do you recommend?”
です
desu
[dess]
is; polite copula
A polite verb-like word used to state or identify something.
それは本日のおすすめですと言われました。
I was told, “That is today’s recommendation.”
か
ka
[kah]
question marker
A sentence-ending particle that turns a statement into a question.
おすすめは何ですかのかで、たずねる形になります。
The ka in “What is your recommendation?” makes it an asking form.
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