KaiwaGoPart-Time Work at Restaurants in Japanese
11 Japanese phrases for part-time work at restaurants, for example 失礼致します。 (Excuse me).
Many students in Japan work part-time (アルバイト) in restaurants. These are the set phrases staff use with customers: welcoming them, asking how many people, taking an order and thanking them at the register.
Hands-free listening
Play every phrase in order with its English meaning between the repeats. Keep the page open and listen while you do something else.
| Japanese | Meaning | |
|---|---|---|
| いらっしゃいませ。 irasshaimase. | Welcome! Please come in. | |
| かしこまりました。はい、かしこまりました。 kashikomarimashita.hai,kashikomarimashita. | Certainly, I understand. | |
| 少々お待ちくださいませ。 | Please wait a moment. | |
| お待たせいたしました。 | Sorry to have kept you waiting. | |
| 失礼致します。 | Excuse me. | |
| 申し訳ございません。 | I am terribly sorry. | |
| 恐れ入りますが。 | Excuse me, but… | |
| ありがとうございました。 arigatougozaimashita. | Thank you very much. | |
| 失礼いたしました！ | I'm sorry for my rudeness! | |
| ご注文はお決まりですか？ | Are you ready to order? | |
| お先にドリンクをお伺いします | May I take your drink order first? |
Usage notes
- いらっしゃいませ is said to every customer who comes in; customers do not answer it.
- Customer-service Japanese uses humble and honorific forms (keigo); learn the phrases as set expressions first.
- かしこまりました is the polite “certainly” after taking an order.
FAQ
What does いらっしゃいませ mean?
It means “welcome (to our shop)”. Staff say it to every customer who comes in; customers do not reply.
Do I need keigo for a part-time job in Japan?
Yes, restaurant and shop work uses fixed polite phrases (keigo). New staff usually learn them as set expressions from a manual before understanding the grammar.