At the Restaurant (3)
How to order at a restaurant(1) The waiter or the waitress may use these phrases.
| Nani ni nasaimasu ka. 何になさいますか。 | What would you like to have? |
| Go-chuumon wa okimaridesu ka. ご注文はお決まりですか。 | Have you decided on your order? |
| Okimaridesu ka. お決まりですか。 | Have you decided? |
| Go-chuumon wa. ご注文は。 (with rising intonation, less formal) | What would you like to order? |
These expressions are formal, since the waiter or the waitress normally talk politely to the customer. "Go" or "o" is the respectful prefix(polite marker).
(2) How to order
| Sushi すし | (o) onegaishimasu. (を) お願いします。 |
| o kudasai. をください。 | |
| o moraimasu. をもらいます。 | |
| ni shimasu. にします。 |
When you chose something from several alternatives, the verb "suru (shimasu)" is used. It means "to decide" in this case.
"Boku wa sushi" literally means, "I am sushi." ("Wa" is a particle, topic marker.) However, the situation makes it clear that he is ordering sushi. Therefore the particle "wa" can be translated "as for" in this case.
| Boku wa sushi. 僕はすし。 | As for me, I will have sushi. |
| Watashi wa biiru. 私はビール。 | I will have beer. |
