How to Say ‘What do you recommend?’ in Japanese
おすすめは何ですか？
o susume wa nan desu ka
[o oh-soo-soo-meh wah nan dess ka]
🇯🇵 In Japan: Asking this is welcome, and staff often point to the restaurant's signature dish or a seasonal special. It's a good way to order well when the menu has no pictures.
Phrase Breakdown
おすすめは
o susume wa
the recommendation (topic)
おすすめ (osusume) means 'recommendation'. The 'su' sounds are light and quick. は is pronounced 'wa'.
今日のおすすめはこれです。
Today's recommendation is this.
Words in this phrase
お
o
[o]
polite prefix
Prefix added for politeness.
お名前は？
What is your name?
すすめ
susume
[oh-soo-soo-meh]
recommendation; recommended item/thing
Used for ‘recommendation’ (noun) or ‘recommended’ (na-adjective-like). Common question: おすすめは？
私のおすすめはこれです。
My recommendation is this.
は
wa
[wah]
topic marker; as for
Marks 'today' as the topic. Written は but pronounced 'wa.'
本日はお時間をいただき、ありがとうございます。
Thank you for giving me your time today.
何ですか？
nan desu ka
what is it?
何 (nan) means 'what'. Say 'nan-des-ka' in three quick beats.
これは何ですか？
What is this?
Words in this phrase
何
nan
[nan]
what
何 means what; in 何時 it helps ask 'what time'.
何時に始まりますか。
What time does it start?
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.
か
ka
[ka]
question particle
Used to create a yes/no question in informal speech.
行くか？
Shall we go?
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