At the Restaurant (8)
How to deal with problems (1)(1) When you are asked for your order, but haven't decided yet, these expressions are used.
| Mou sukoshi matte kudasai. もう少し待ってください。 | Can you give me a little more time? (Literally means, "Please wait a little longer.") |
| Sumimasen, mada kimete imasen. すみません、まだ決めていません。 | I am sorry, I haven't decided yet. |
(2) When your order hasn't come for a long time, you can ask a waiter or a waitress with these phrases.
| Sumimasen, koohii mada deshou ka. すみません、 コーヒーまだでしょうか。 | Excuse me, what happened to my coffee? ("Mada desu ka" literally means "Not yet?") |
| Koohii mada desu ka. (casual) コーヒーまだですか。 | What happened to my coffee? |
| Ato dono gurai kakarimasu ka. あとどのぐらいかかりますか。 | How long will it take? |
"Deshou" can be used as "probably". Since it is derived from "desu" and more indirect, it is used when asking a question more politely. Compare these sentences.
| Ima nanji desu ka. いま何時ですか。 | What time is it now? |
| Ima nanji deshou ka. (formal) いま何時でしょうか。 | What time is it now? (I wonder what time it is now.) |
The waiter or waitress might answer with these expressions.
| Moushiwake gozaimasen. Mou sukoshi omachi kudasai. 申し訳ございません。 もう少しお待ちください。 | I am very sorry. It won't be much longer. |
| Omatase shimashita. お待たせしました。 (When the food is brought) | I am sorry to have kept you waiting. |
"Moushiwake gozaimasen （申し訳ございません）" is a very polite expression for apologizing. As I mentioned before, employees in the service industries are extremely formal and polite in Japan. "Moushiwake arimasen （申し訳ありません）" or "Sumimasen （すみません）" also can be used, though "Gomennasai （ごめんなさい）" is not appropriate in this situation.
