Mini-Dialogue 4: Ordering at a Cafe
Practice expressing your wants and preferences in a real-world cafe setting.
At the Cafe
You have just walked into a cozy cafe in Tokyo. The menu is full of options, and you need to tell the server what you would like to drink and eat. Using the grammar you have learned, you can clearly express your preferences.
Expressing Wants
To express what you want, we use the -tai form for actions and the 'hoshii' adjective for objects. We use 'ga' to mark the object of your desire.
Tip
Ordering Dialogue
Here is a typical exchange between a customer and a server.
いらっしゃいませ。なにがいいですか。
いらっしゃいませ。何がいいですか。
Welcome. What would you like?
こーひーがほしいです。
コーヒーがほしいです。
I would like a coffee.
けーきもたべたいですか。
ケーキも食べたいですか。
Do you also want to eat cake?
はい、たべたいです。かーどではらいます。
はい、食べたいです。カードで払います。
Yes, I want to eat it. I will pay by card.
かしこまりました。
かしこまりました。
Certainly.
Which particle is used to mark the object of desire?
- は
- ✓ が
- を
- に
In Japanese, 'ga' is used with 'hoshii' and the '-tai' form to mark the object or action being desired.
Nuance and Politeness
While 'hoshii' is grammatically correct, it can sound a bit direct or childish when ordering in a shop.
Ordering Styles
コーヒーがほしいです
Direct, expresses personal want.
I want coffee.
コーヒーをください
Polite, standard for ordering.
Please give me coffee.
Which phrase is more appropriate when ordering at a restaurant?
- コーヒーがほしいです
- ✓ コーヒーをください
'~o kudasai' is the standard, polite way to request items in a service setting.
Deep Dive: Personal Desires
A note on who is doing the wanting.
Expressing others' desires
Lesson Recap
You have learned how to express desires using 'ga hoshii' and the '-tai' verb form, and how to use 'de' to indicate the method of payment.