politeLesson 51

Ordering at a Restaurant — Client

Situation

Where
A restaurant
Who
You (customer) and a client
Goal
To order food politely and ask a question about the menu.

Conversation

Show

A

Are you ready to order?

B

Excuse me, what do you recommend?

A

Today the fried chicken set is popular.

B

Then I'll have one of those, please.

A

Certainly. Please wait a moment.

Vocabulary (10)

gochuumon

order (polite)

ご注文はお決まりですか = "are you ready to order?"

okimari

decided (polite)

Honorific of 決まる.

osusume

recommendation

お店のおすすめ = "the restaurant's recommendation."

teishoku

set meal

A main dish with rice, soup, and sides.

ninki

popularity / popular

人気です = "is popular."

kashikomarimashita

certainly (very polite)

Service-industry "understood."

renraku

contact / communication

後で連絡します = "I will contact you later."

soudan

consultation

相談する = to consult; asking before deciding is valued.

taiou

handling / response

対応します = "I will handle it."

junbi

preparation

準備しておきます = "I will prepare it in advance."

Grammar

お + Verb stem + です

Honorific state: お決まりですか = "have you decided?"

Noun + を + counter

それを一つ = "one of those."

Noun + をお願いします

Polite "I'll have / please."

Cultural Notes

Workplace etiquette

You don't need to tip in Japan. A simple ごちそうさまでした when leaving is the polite thanks.

Formality level

Staff use the highest keigo (かしこまりました); customers can use plain polite (お願いします).

Common mistake

To call staff over, a clear すみません is correct and not rude — it's the normal way to get attention.

Quiz

What does "ご注文" mean?

What does "お決まり" mean?

What does "おすすめ" mean?

What does "定食" mean?

What does "人気" mean?

What does "かしこまりました" mean?

How is the pattern "お〜です" used?

How is the pattern "〜を一つ" used?

How is the pattern "〜をお願いします" used?

What is the goal of this conversation?

Flashcards

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