At a Restaurant

Situation

田中さんと山田さんは、お昼ご飯を食べにレストランに来ました。何を注文するか話しています。

Dialogue

Key Vocabulary

Grammar Notes

• ~です (~desu): This is a polite sentence ending, often translated as 'is' or 'to be.' It makes a statement polite and is frequently used after nouns and i-adjectives to form complete sentences. Example from dialogue: 「二人です。」 (We are two people / There are two of us.)
• N が 好きです (N ga suki desu): This pattern indicates that someone likes noun N. The particle 「が」 marks the item or person that is liked. Example from dialogue: 「ラーメンが好きです。」 (I like ramen.)
• N にします (N ni shimasu): Use this phrase when you are deciding on something, especially when choosing an item from a menu or making a selection. Example from dialogue: 「カレーにします。」 (I'll have curry / I'm deciding on curry.)
• N と N (N to N): The particle 「と」 connects two or more nouns, meaning 'and.' This implies that all items in the list are mentioned. Example from dialogue: 「ラーメンとカレー」 (Ramen and curry).
• V-ます stem ください (V-masu stem kudasai): This is a polite request form. You take the masu-stem of a verb and add 「ください」. Example from dialogue: 「お待ちください。」 (Please wait.)
• Adjective です (Adj desu): In Japanese, adjectives can be followed directly by 「です」 to form a polite sentence, politely describing a noun or situation. Example from dialogue: 「美味しいですよ。」 (It's delicious, you know.) / 「有名ですか。」 (Is it famous?)

Cultural Notes

When dining in Japan, using specific polite phrases is customary. For instance, to call a server, you'll typically say 「すみません」 (sumimasen), meaning 'excuse me.' After being seated or served, a polite 「ありがとうございます」 (arigatou gozaimasu — thank you very much) is standard. When placing an order, it's common to state what you want, then add 「お願いします」 (onegai shimasu). This phrase can be translated as 'please' or 'I request.'

Servers also use polite expressions. You'll often hear 「かしこまりました」 (kashikomarimashita), meaning 'certainly,' and 「少々お待ちください」 (shou shou omachi kudasai), which means 'please wait a moment.' Once your food arrives, the server might say 「お待たせしました」 (omatase shimashita). This literally means 'I have kept you waiting,' but it's used as a polite way to acknowledge your wait and signal that your order has arrived.

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Practice

Suggestions for practicing this conversation:

• Role-play: Practice the dialogue by taking on the roles of Tanaka and Yamada with a partner. Then, switch roles.

• Substitution Drills:

• Replace the food items: Try ordering 「うどん」 (udon), 「寿司」 (sushi), 「焼き肉」 (yakiniku), or 「パスタ」 (pasuta) instead of ramen and curry.

• Change the number of people: Practice saying 「一人です」 (hitori desu - one person) or 「三人です」 (sannin desu - three people).

• Substitute drinks: Order 「コーヒー」 (koohii), 「お茶」 (ocha), or 「水」 (mizu).

• Variation Scenario: Imagine you are at a cafe, ordering drinks and a cake. How would the conversation change?