Reservation / booking

The words

How they differ

よやく is a noun that becomes a verb with します:

「よやく したい です」(yoyaku shitai desu): I want to book

「よやく は して ありますか」(yoyaku wa shite arimasu ka?): do you have a reservation? (staff may ask)

「なまえ で よやく しています」(namae de yoyaku shite imasu): reserved under [name]

Common spots: restaurants, hotels, hair salons, trains (reserved seats). Pair with から / まで and days of the week for time windows.

Hold the slot: book it · have it. よやく = the hold, よやくします = place the hold.

One line: よやく / よやくします.

Staff say this — recognize only: Understand these; do not produce them as a customer.

いらっしゃいませ (irasshaimase): Welcome! (staff → you)

かしこまりました (kashikomarimashita): Certainly. / Understood. (staff reply)

なんめいさま (nanmei sama): How many people? (staff → you; often なんめいさま ですか)

Next: First meetings: はじめまして / よろしく おねがいします.

See it in a sentence

1. yoyaku shitai desu

   よやく したい です。

   I'd like to make a reservation. (polite)

2. yoyaku shite imasu

   よやく しています。

   I have a reservation. (polite)

3. nanji no yoyaku desu ka?

   なんじ の よやく ですか?

   What time is the reservation? (polite)

4. futari de yoyaku onegai shimasu

   ふたり で よやく おねがいします。

   A reservation for two, please. (polite)

5. yoyaku mei wa adamu desu

   よやく めい は アダム です。

   The reservation name is Adam. (polite)

Watch out

よやく = reservation — not やくそく (promise / appointment in a broader sense) よやくします = make a booking — します turns the noun into the action よやく なし = without a reservation — useful soft opposite

Try it

1. In your next story, find よやく. Say whether someone is making a booking or already has one.

   Check against the lesson cluster and say it out loud.