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Food 食 · Stop F07

お会計

Paying the bill in Japanese

Okonomimura in Hiroshima is floor after floor of sizzling okonomiyaki grills. Dinner was amazing. Now it's time to pay. Ask for the bill, split it, pay by card, and thank the chef on your way out.

  • お好み村 · Set in Okonomimura, Hiroshima
  • 6-minute lesson
  • With Ekiben Pass

Phrases

おかいけいおねがいします

okaikei onegaishimasu

The bill, please.

Catch a server's eye and say this. At many places you then pay at the register by the door.

お会計okaikei · the billお願いしますonegaishimasu · please

べつべつでおねがいします

betsubetsu de onegaishimasu

Separate bills, please.

Say it before staff ring everything up together. Some busy places can't split the bill.

別々betsubetsu · separateでde · asお願いしますonegaishimasu · please

カードでおねがいします

kaado de onegaishimasu

By card, please.

Swap in 現金 (genkin) for cash. Some small places are still cash only.

Pattern: 〜でお願いします

カードkaado · cardでde · by / withお願いしますonegaishimasu · please

gochisousama deshita

Thank you for the meal.

Say it to the staff or chef as you leave. It's the partner of いただきます.

ごちそうさまgochisousama · thanks for the feastでしたdeshita · it was

oishikatta desu

It was delicious.

The past tense of おいしい. Chefs light up when they hear it.

おいしかったoishikatta · was deliciousですdesu · (polite)

いっしょでおねがいします

issho de onegaishimasu

One bill for all of us, please.

Your answer when staff ask if you're paying together.

一緒issho · togetherでde · asお願いしますonegaishimasu · please

What you’ll hear

Staff talk fast. Here’s what they are likely to say at this stop, and a good answer.

okaikei wa goissho de yoroshii desu ka?

One bill for everyone?

Asked when a group pays.

You

betsubetsu de onegaishimasu

Separate bills, please.

oshiharai wa dou nasaimasu ka?

How would you like to pay?

Cash, card, and at many places IC cards or QR code apps too.

You

kaado de onegaishimasu

By card, please.

okaikei wa reji de onegaishimasu

Please pay at the register.

At many restaurants you take the bill to the register by the door.

You

hai

Okay.

Culture tip

Skip the Tip

There's no tipping in Japan. Leave extra money and staff may chase you down to return it! At many restaurants you take the bill to the register by the door. On your way out, say ごちそうさまでした. That's the thank-you that counts.

“At many restaurants in Japan, you pay at the register by the door, not at your table.”

Practice scene

Splitting the Bill

An okonomiyaki counter in Okonomimura. You and a friend have finished eating and want to pay separately.

Mrs. Tanaka · Okonomiyaki chef

  1. Your turn: You're done eating. Ask for the bill.

    okaikei onegaishimasu

    The bill, please.

  2. hai. okaikei wa goissho de yoroshii desu ka?

    Sure. One bill for both of you?

  3. Your turn: You want to pay separately.

    betsubetsu de onegaishimasu

    Separate bills, please.

  4. ohitori-sama, sen nihyaku en desu. oshiharai wa dou nasaimasu ka?

    That's 1,200 yen each. How would you like to pay?

  5. Your turn: Pay with your credit card.

    kaado de onegaishimasu

    By card, please.

  6. hai, kaado desu ne. oazukarishimasu.

    Card, sure. I'll take it.

  7. Your turn: On your way out, thank her for the meal.

    gochisousama deshita

    Thank you for the meal.

  8. arigatou gozaimashita! mata okoshi kudasai.

    Thank you! Please come again.

Phrases from Ekiben content v3